Earlier on, the team that went to the 2012 Olympic Games also in London had also come back empty handed, raising questions as to where Zimbabwe is going wrong and what needs to be done to taste success the same way other African countries like South Africa and Kenya are doing at the games.
That Zimbabwe could send an athlete of 40 years at the Paralympic Games in the form of Elliot Mujaji and hoping to get a medal from him was just expecting too much from the same athlete who failed at the 2008 games having won a gold medal when he was younger at the 2000 and 2004 Paralympic Games in Sydney and Athens.
That Zimbabwe was looking forward to only Kirsty Coventry to bring back a medal from the Olympic Games speaks volumes of the non availability of a large base of sporting talent in Zimbabwe.
It should also be noted that Coventry, Zimbabwe’s only individual medal winner so far at the Olympic Games, is not a product of the country’s junior development programme but has roots of her success at her parents home.
For sure, Mujaji will not be at the next Olympic Games as a competitor in Rio de Janeiro and Coventry too might miss out of the same games. So with that in mind, where is Zimbabwe’s future at the Olympic Games ?
Zimbabwe Football Association president Cuthbert Dube says there is need to separate the ministry of sport from education, arts and culture in order for sport to stand on its own so that there is more concentration on sport development.
He says the current ministry has too much on its plate and as a result not much attention is being paid to sport as it is being viewed as a luxury.
Dube says the government should be involved heavily financially to assist local athletes in both their training programmes and international participation if Zimbabwe is to taste success not only at the Olympic Games but in all sporting disciplines.
Sports Reporter Jabes Lefani also thinks the same saying there is need for a national budget for sport, the money of which should be used in talent identification, progression, and also fund international participation.
“You cannot reap where you did not sow. We are not investing in sport and the results have been there for everyone to see. As long as the government does not have a budget for sport, we will continue to be the perennial underachievers of international sport,’ said Lefani.
He added that in other countries, national coaches are employed by associations but their salaries are paid for by the government adding that even national teams have all their expenses paid for by their governments.
“But in Zimbabwe, associations are made to pay for national teams international participation. That attitude has to change if we are to reap rewards,” said Lefani.
The National Athletics Association of Zimbabwe has hinted they are going to rural areas in search for talented athletes for the next Olympic Games but association president Joseph Mungwari is also crying over lack of funds saying the limited funds they have will not yield the required results.
“This is a programme that requires a lot of money. We need to identify the athletes, give them proper training and regular international participation. But the money is not there, we need financial support to successfully implement the programme,’ said Mungwari.
Former 100 and 200 metre sprinter Charles Bhiza says preparations for the next Olympic Games have to start now. “Now is not too early to start preparations for Rio. Athletes with potential have to be found and given the right training. This should have started the same day the 2010 Olympic Games ended,” says Bhiza.
Zimbabwe has taken part in nine Olympic Games and has won eight medals seven of them by Coventry and one by the women’s hockey team at the 1980 Games. That is not a proud record by any standards.
But after 32 years of no government funding for sport, will anyone be able to convince those in authority to part with money to support this sector which has suffered greatly with most of national teams withdrawing from international competitions due to lack of funds.
The truth is that sport revolves around money and without it, Zimbabwe will continue to sing the blues.
Post published in: Athletics