HARARE - Long Jumper Ngonidzashe Makusha Zimbabwe Olympic Committe chief executive officer Robert Mutsauki revealed that they had picked Mukusha as they considered him to be one of the brightest medal hopefuls at the games.
Mukusha who turned 23 on March 11 missed out of a medal at the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing just by a centimetre after posting 8.19 metres against 8.20 metres for second placed Godfrey Khatso Mokoena of South Africa.
According to Mutsauki, Makusha has been placed on an Olympic Sponsorship. The sponsorship is awarded to athletes identified to represent the country at the next competition of the Olympic Games.
It is a financial package supplied by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) to cover the athletes’ training programme and also allows him to participate at high level international competitions like the world championships.
Some of the Zimbabwean athletes who have been on the Olympic sponsorship include swimming queen Kirsty Coventry, Brian Dzingai and Lewis Banda. Coventry, who was Zimbabwe’s hero at both the 2004 and 2008 Olympic Games has hinted she would be available for the 2010 Olympic Games in London but would have to take part in few events.
Mutsauki said they had spoken to Makusha who has pledged his commitment to the Zimbabwean cause.
Post published in: Athletics