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the weekend due to the nature of the cinder track at Maglas.
Most of the athletes have been used to the tartan track at the University of Zimbabwe which offers faster times unlike the rammed cinder track which will host the two-day event in Zvishavane.
The Shabanie Mine Meet is returning to the spotlight after a year’s absence but, despite the slower times expected, Shabanie Mine Athletics Club coach Elliot Mujaji is confident of some good races.
“Obviously we are not expecting fast times but we hope there will be tight competition.
“Last year, we did not host the Shabanie Mine Championships but it has been revived this year and we expect it to be one of the biggest athletics competition this year.
“Most of the top clubs like Hwange, Black Rhinos, ZPS, Sparrows, Ziscosteel, Blanket Mine and Trojan should be bringing athletes and are fired up,” said Mujaji.
The Shabanie Mine event will be without some of the top junior athletes currently in Botswana for the African Junior Championship and Mujaji believes this is also an opportunity for unheralded athletes to shine.
“A number of athletes are in Botswana for the junior championship but this is now a chance for us to see the other athletes. We expect to see strong competition as the selectors will use the event to pick a team for the Southern Region Youth Championship in Namibia.
“As coach of the Midlands Youth team, I will be bringing the team as we prepare for the Zimbabwe National Youth Games. I know that Mashonaland East will also be bringing their Youth Games team,” said Mujaji.
The Paralympic 100m gold medallist Mujaji is also confident that competition in the senior’s middle distance will be close.
“We are expecting Wirimai Juwawo and Kudakwashe Shoko, who are both from Shabanie, while there is Luwis Masunda from Ziscosteel. Francis Zimwera is a promising athlete and I reckon he is one of the best sprinters currently staying in Zimbabwe at the moment.
“The Shabanie Meet should be used by athletes as a build up to the All-Africa Games,” said Mujaji.

Harare Athletics Board secretary Silas Muringani said he would be taking a team composed mainly of the Under-18 athletes.
“This is chance to prepare for the Southern Region Youth Track and Field in Namibia.
“At the moment we are still running around to raise funds for transport and then see how many athletes can go,” said Muringani.