Zimpapers Logo

[email protected]

 MANICALAND dominated the annual Anglican Secondary Schools Track and Field Championships held at the National University of Science and Technology tartan track on Saturday.

The Eastern Highlanders were first, scooping 49 gold medals, 32 silver and 15 bronze.

In second place was Harare with 32 gold, 28 silver and 20 bronze.The hosts Matabeleland boasting of athletes from Bulawayo and the two Matabeleland Provinces were third four gold medals, 14 silver and 29 bronze. The Midlands and Masvingo found the going tough because of lesser numbers of schools and pupil population.

Masvingo had two gold, five silver and three bronze.

At the bottom of the standings was the Midlands with six silver and 17 bronze medals. Athletes competed in the 3 000m, 1 500m, 800m, 400m, 200m, 100m and the relays, 4x100m and 4x400m and in field events comprising of high jump, long jump, triple jump, discus, shot putt and javelin.

It was a very colorful day for the Anglican Dioceses in Zimbabwe Athletics Championships.

The event was graced by the Matabeleland Anglican Senior Bishop Cleopas Lunga and education secretaries from their five dioceses which are Matabeleland, Harare, Masvingo, Midlands and Manicaland. Bishop Lunga emphasized the importance of such events in the country as they are a way of trying to reduce the rising numbers of youths being subjected to drug and substance abuse in communities.

Bishop Lunga said: “Our children benefit from this event in that they get to mingle, showcase their talents, spiritual upliftment and educational at the same time. It brings the dioceses together with one purpose, to bring up children under the guidance of the church so that they can be responsible members of the society when they leave the schools.”

Lovemore Mafa who is the national chairperson of the Association of Church Education Secretaries said they want to groom their children in different aspects not only in sports but in other areas of interest like educational exchange programmes among their institutions.

“We offer a range of technical disciplines at our institutions as a way to divert the children’s attention from drugs and crime. Such programmes will help these children give back to their communities and have something to do after they leave school.

”The competition director from Cyrene High School Velaphi Sibindi said it was their first time to play host to such an event in Bulawayo and is pleased with how the event proceeded.

The brains behind these events Dr Lazarus Nyatsanza said their intention is to extend the sporting activities to involve Malawi and Zambia. What spoilt an otherwise colourful event was that the organisers failed to involve technical experts from the athletics board to be event managers and judges. As such athletes were not timed as organisers were content with positioning the children for gold, silver and bronze medals for bragging rights.