• All in all, despite the naysayers, great Olympics for #Zim Athletes all performed superbly, Kirsty elected to IOC & wonderful Marathon #
• Makorokoto to Cutbert and Wirimai for an absolutely outstanding Marathon performance which put #Zimbabwe firmly back on the Olympic map. #
• On my way home after the privilege of being with our superb London Olympic 2012 team. I am honoured to have been your Minister of Sport. #
• I have noted the constructive criticism of some regarding Zimbabwe's Olympic performance, and welcome it . Much work for Government and ZOC #
• #Zimbabwe needs to learn from Team GB – target money at medal potentials and build national support for and knowledge of all ahtletes. #
• Unless we make Sport a Government funding priority it will remain in the doldrums. Although corporate sector must help Govt must also fund. #
• We need to clean up the administration of sport as much money is wasted and there is too much politics in sport which frustrates our stars #
• We also need to target sporting disciplines we are good at and in which we have a comparative advantage over other nations. #
• Sport needs to become an integral part of our educational curriculum so that we identify and nurture sporting talent in schools. #
• We need to bridge the gap between school and clubs as much sporting talent is lost when children leave schools. Rugby is a prime example. #
• We need to start planning for Rio 2016 now; we have good marathon runners, rowers, Kirsty will produce more swimmers, and new sports eg golf #
• We need to plan a national strategy. Who is likely to win medals? Where are they? What do they need NOW? Who are the best coaches? #
• Also we need to think out the box – what new sports are there. We can be strong at golf and 7s rugby both of which will be sports in 2016. #
• I am told that we have a superb under 19 girls water polo side which will be competing in the Worlds in Aus in December; same squad in 2016? #
• We need to recognise that the #Olympics is a world stage which goes beyond sport – it markets an entire nation. It projects a nation + or -! #
• Interesting correlation between GDP and Olympic medals. Countries which spend money on sport, win medals and then get further investment. #
• Tragically for all the sporting talent in Africa there is a sporting crisis – not one African country came in the top 20 of the world. #
• All of Africa's medals combined do not exceed those won by some individual countries. Unacceptable situation – #Zim needs to take a lead #
• Thank you London and Britain for hosting the #Zimbabwe Olympic team so well. The British volunteers were outstanding – great credit to UK #
• Congratulations to Malcolm Lake for a great ton against India today in u19 World Cup. Good work by ex CBC lad Kyle Bowie for bowling tight. #
• Praise for efforts of Zim Olympic athletes http://t.co/5VvukCda via @sharethis #
• #zimU19MalcomLake Congrats on a great knock today #
• Malcom Lake's Brave Chase For Zimbabwe – Good article – thanks http://t.co/NL9qUXO4 #
• Grandmother of Zimbabwean Human rights movement Eileen Sawyer dies http://t.co/yxD2jkEe via @newsdayzimbabwe Hamba Kahle my very good friend #
• Govt must fund sports — Coltart http://t.co/Y2vQbmPb via @newsdayzimbabwe #
• I hope all Zimbabweans living in Townsville will turn out in their numbers to support Zim u19 against Windies in the u19 World Cup tomorrow #
• Nice pic of some special people – my wife with @KirstyCoventry and Tyrone Seward on the evening of their engagement. http://t.co/pxV6m82K #
• Not a good day at the office for Zimbabwe u19 v Windies in World Cup; batting let us down again. So I presume it will now be on to the plate #
• Zim WT20 squad: Taylor, Vusi, Hamilton, Matsikenyeri, Waller, Elton, Ervine, Cremer, Price, Jarvis, Mpofu, Muzhange, Vitori, Utseya, Mutizwa #
• I am very sad to hear of the deaths of some 30 SA miners yesterday. Violence begets violence. We in Zimbabwe need to learn from this tragedy #
• Good resolutions out of Maputo by SADC including facilitator involvement in resolution of constitution difficulties. Hardliners wont like it #
• Malema at Marikana: 'Many will die' – Mail & Guardian Online http://t.co/USDcYw64 via @mailandguardian Political opportunism at its worse #
• Although the tail wagged nicely Zim top order let down u19 team again and we lost to Scotland u19. Not a good day for Zim Cricket #
• #Zimbabweans are everywhere! Pom @mmbangwa and Paul Harris, Plumtree and Harare boys respectively on#Supersport. Well done lads, great job! #
• Interesting debate on #Supersport re prevalence of South Africans in English cricket team. Some saying ICC rules wrong. Your views? #

The Standard

By Brian Nkiwane

19 August 2012

A lot has been happening in local football following the Young Warriors’ failure to travel to Angola for the second leg of the Africa Youth Championships.

A war of words erupted between ministries and other responsible authorities as fans demanded answers as to why the team failed to travel for the second leg of the African Youth Championship match against Angola after they had played the first leg at home and lost 1-0 to the visitors.

The technical team, led by Jairos Tapera, was confident of overturning the score in Angola, had they travelled. but due to their failure, the country now risks being penalised by CAF.

To start with, all the responsible ministries and associations should shoulder the blame because they should have ensured the team fulfilled its fixture.

The Ministry of Education, Sport, Arts and Culture, led by Senator David Coltart, should now take Zifa head-on over this issue.

The ministry, which does not get any percentage from all registered sporting associations, recently paid US$90 000 from precious Education Ministry Funds to Pandhari Lodge as they bailed out Zifa.

Coltart also said his ministry was allocated only US$5 million to fund the country’s 8 000 schools and all sporting disciplines, which is too little. In this case the ministry has no question to answer.

The Sports and Recreation Commission (SRC), which happens to be the supreme sports controlling body in this country, was supposed to do something as well as taking into consideration that these associations fall under the commission.

SRC is entitled to 6% of gate takings at any Zifa match, which is a lot of money. They should have made an effort to see to it that the Young Warriors fulfilled the fixture. SRC should shoulder the blame.

Zifa, itself, has for a long time been broke and everyone knows that Cuthbert Dube has been running the association with his money.

All the expenses, even Zifa employees’ salaries, have been coming from the Zifa boss as the association has no money at all.

But I don’t think this is the right way of doing it. Zifa must be a self-sustaining organisation, taking into consideration the Warriors brand. Once again, Zifa should join SRC in shouldering the blame.

Now, we are set to be hit by heavy fines for not fulfilling this fixture. The million dollar question is: who is going to meet those hefty fines, after we failed to pay reasonable ticket fares for our Young Warriors to go to Angola?

Can the government, through the Ministry of Education, Sport, Arts and Culture and SRC intervene before the situation goes beyond control.

I cannot foresee a situation whereby Minister Coltart can say Dube has snubbed him for a long time. It’s high time they meet, sit on a round table and chat the way forward.

The Sunday News

By Bruce Itai Chimani

18 August 2012

EDUCATION, Sport, Arts and Culture Minister David Coltart says football as a sport has a long way to go before it can start producing expected results, especially on international stages.

Speaking in a telephone interview, Coltart said that other sports such as rugby, hockey, cricket, golf and basketball were doing exceptionally well, in conformity with the revival of the economy. He said this was evident because of the resuscitation of national and regional leagues in most of the sports, while football, the most poplar sport in the country, is doing badly.

“The big negative in Zimbabwean sport is football. As much as it is the most popular sport, we cannot underestimate the impact that negative development has had. Asiagate, for example, has left football reeling from its negative impact,” said Coltart.

Coltart asserted that the Zimbabwe Football Association was in a poor financial state as evidenced by how they were having some of their property attached. He further slammed the high turnout of coaches as one of the reasons why football was doing badly.

“It’s amazing how there is always a huge controversy around whoever is made coach. We have heard so many coaches over the past fifteen years in football than in any other sport. Sports like cricket and rugby have had the same coach for over a decade now. See, the impact of this is that the performance of the team is undermined and the players are affected; hence there is no consistency in performance in our football. Here I am talking in particular to Olympics and international events,” he said.

Coltart, who was the head of delegation of Team Zimbabwe to the Olympic Games in London, said that if the nation performed well in football, the nation would avoid other evils in other sports, implying how the good performance of national football teams would cover up and ascertain the country’s general performance in sports.

“We have to consider our competitive and comparative advantage before we invest into football participation, especially at international level, the Olympics in particular. The question we need to ask is whether we are able to compete against sides like Ghana, Cameroon and so on. That is the harsh reality,” he said.

He further stated that the relevant bodies, Government included were supposed to focus on the 2020 Olympics, as a mark with which improvement will be assessed.

Coltart expressed great satisfaction on the state of other sporting disciplines saying they had “greatly” improved over the years.

The Sunday News

By Stanford Chiwanga

18 August 2012

Is it possible to instil discipline in the inclusive Govt?

THE inclusive Government will go down in history as the worst Government that post-independence Zimbabwe has ever had. Undoubtedly it has brought relief to Zimbabweans who were sinking into unimaginable poverty and hunger at a time when the illegal sanctions were starting to bite. But in terms of policy implementation, coherence, unity for the greater good and effectiveness, it has been found wanting in all aspects of governance.

In a nutshell, there has been too much smoke coming from the kitchen but no actual cooking has taken place with the Government of National Unity (GNU) nearing its culmination. An old adage says too many cooks spoil the broth but in this case, with no intention to sound cruel, there is not even any broth to write home about.

The three political parties that make up the GNU have all agreed that the inclusive Government and its implementation framework have failed in spite of the fact (mentioned above) that it gave the people of Zimbabwe room to breathe in a much better economic environment.

The failure of the inclusive Government has been traced to the refusal of the West to remove the sanctions and the fact the Government is made up of three political parties who are poles apart when it comes to ideology.

That is true to some extent but to a larger extent the inclusive Government has failed because there is no discipline. There has been no regulation of the behaviours of ministers and Members of Parliament, no rules governing goal orientation and no code of conduct that puts the political parties and their emissaries on a leash when they tour other countries on diplomatic missions.

Thus it is no wonder that the inclusive Government has failed to implement many aspects of its own Bible — the GPA.

Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai from the MDC-T globe-trotted many a time on diplomatic offensives to discredit President Mugabe and Zanu-PF. President Mugabe and Zanu-PF have been forced to firefight the fires that were started by MDC-T.

Cabinet meetings have been characterised by boycotts. If it’s not MDC-T ministers boycotting because President Mugabe is chairing it would be ministers from Zanu-PF because PM Tsvangirai is supposed to chair. The reasons for boycotting are deemed sound but Zimbabweans see them as unwarranted.

Despite all that has been and is being said President Mugabe is the head of the Government but ministers from the other side of the divide have made a mockery of his authority. They do not respect him despite the fact they are ministers because of him — he is the one who swore them into power. This is exemplified by Minister of Finance Tendai Biti’s refusal to award civil servants a salary increment at the behest of the President.

Reports emerging from Cabinet meetings are that sound policies were and are dismissed because they were and are formulated by a minister from a rival party. The same scenario plays out in Parliament where Bills that are proposed by a Parliamentarian from a rival party are shot down for the sole reason that they are from a member of rival party.

Political analysts believe that the indiscipline is made clear when you take seriously the accusations that Zanu-PF and MDC-T run parallel governments. The MDC-T has long stood accused of running a parallel government in the Prime Minister’s office where MDC-T ministers are said to earn scandalous top-up salaries that are as high as $7 000 a month.

Zanu-PF has not been spared as MDC-T believes that the Indigenisation and Empowerment Programme, the appointment of Governors and military officers to high ranks are signs that the party is running a parallel government.

All this and more has led the conclusion that it is impossible to effect discipline in the inclusive Government. But is it really impossible? Is there nothing that can be done to ensure that discipline takes effect from now onwards? Does the absence of a code of conduct mean indiscipline will continue to reign supreme unchecked?

Impossible

Mr Qhubani Moyo the national director for policy and research co-ordination in the Professor Welshman Ncube-led MDC is of the view that the indiscipline in the inclusive Government stems from the fact that the political parties that form it do not trust each other.

He said: “The construction of the Government from a group of people who view each other with suspicion and hostility was always going to create operational problems for the inclusive Government. There are those who feel we were the legitimate winners of the first round and we were robbed and those who feel they also won the second round and allowed for creation of the GNU in the national interest and as such should call the shots. Of course there are those from the Professor Welshman Ncube’s side who believe they provide the necessary balance against the extremism of the other two parties.

“This set-up and background especially between Zanu-PF and MDC-T has created unnecessary competition and sabotage of Government programmes instead of promoting a sense of national cohesion and co-operation. This rivalry unfortunately is not healthy for the country and the individual MPs and Cabinet ministers have to personally take charge and prioritise the nation not personal interests.’’

NewsDay

By Conway Tutani

17 August 2012

“Don’t cry because it’s over, smile because it happened,” quoted United States swimmer Michael Phelps — the most decorated Olympian of all time with 22 medals — announcing his retirement from the sport at the just-ended 2012 London Olympics.

This rather poignant remark also applies to our own champion swimmer Kirsty Coventry, who this time around came out empty-handed. But she did not disgrace herself, having previously won three medals — a gold, silver and bronze at the 2004 Athens Olympics — and four medals — a gold and three silver — at the 2008 Beijing Games. Her time has come and gone.

Zimbabwe hasn’t produced a steady stream of top-notch sportspersons, for various reasons, among them the issue of demographics.

Zimbabwe’s total population of about 13 million is much less than that of Beijing at 20 million, so the pool of talent to tap from is much, much smaller compared to China which came second on the London medals tables. This is a big reality which can’t be ignored. That said, other factors are that we are still paying the price of previous failed sports administrations and that the school sports system which used to churn out champions regularly has almost disappeared.

“I don’t think Zimbabweans really appreciate the obstacles that Kirsty has had to overcome. We always assume that gold medals are easy to come by . . ., ” said Sports minister David Coltart.

There I beg to differ with Coltart because Zimbabweans are not easily given to assumption because of the hardships they have faced over the past 12 years, many of which were imposed punitively from the top to keep them in line.

So, they don’t take many things for granted having suffered and endured disappointment after disappointment. They know that Coventry tried her best, but her best was not enough this time.

Time catches up with each and every one of us. Things end. It has to as it has begun. Coventry didn’t overstay, she still made it to the finals in a global event — she bows out with her head held high.

This is a stark reminder to those politicians we are still saddled with who are clearly past their prime both mentally and physically. Instead of handing over the baton, all they are now doing is slowing the nation down — and the results are there for all to see.

They are resisting change, but in this political marathon it is all over for them bar the shouting. They won’t last the course despite occasional bursts of speed. You don’t win through fits and starts.

But as Coventry struck Olympic gold, she also struck a blow for acceptance that — white, black or any colour — we are all Zimbabweans.

She — in her small but significant way — advanced the cause of racial tolerance. It showed people the falsity of buying into the myth of labelling all whites as basically racist monsters. That was the direct effect of her indirect contribution to the Zimbabwean political discourse.

Indeed, the Olympics have served to debunk racial myths, the most spectacular being at the 1968 Mexico Games where two black athletes from the United States made history by staging a silent protest against racial discrimination back home.

The pair — Tommie Smith and John Carlos, gold and bronze medallists in the 200m — stood with their heads bowed and a black-gloved hand raised in a black power salute as the American national anthem was played during the medal presentation ceremony.

At a Press conference after the event, Smith said: “If I win, I am an American, not a black American. But if I did something bad, then they would say ‘a negro’.” They had been advised by a friend, a university professor, to refuse “to be utilised as ‘performing animals’ in the Games”.

Yes, they did not author the statement, but they believed and stood by every word in it.

Fast-forward to 2003: Just before their first match of the Cricket World Cup, Zimbabwean cricketers Andy Flower and Henry Olonga donned black armbands, to mourn the “death of democracy” in Zimbabwe and draw attention to basic human rights denied to many of their fellow countrymen and women.

In response, the then Information minister Jonathan Moyo labelled Olonga an “Uncle Tom” who had “a black skin and a white mask”, adding he was “obviously forced into putting his name to a statement which he clearly did not author”.

Some things never change. We are still in this same sorry state of affairs. The establishment, as usual, was in self-denial, reiterating the myth of apolitical sport but at the same time tightening its grip on the national cricket team.

Fast-forward to 2008: Zimbabwe Olympic Committee head Paul Chingoka described Coventry as “our national treasure” and President Robert Mugabe called her “a golden girl” and awarded her $100 000 in cash for her performance in Beijing.

Coventry raised the Zimbabwe flag proudly high. This despite her race being treated as scum in a throwback to the dark days of ignorant and legalised racial segregation, and undeterred by the likelihood of being, in her case, labelled an “Aunt Tom” with “a white skin and a black mask”.

In her quiet way, Coventry did wonders for Zimbabwe. We need to remind each other of these lessons now and then lest they recede from memory forever.

Thanks for the enduring memories, Kirsty!

Radio VOP

15 August 2012

Police in Bulawayo on Tuesday banned a memorial service for Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) activist, Patrick Nabanyama, who disappeared in 2000 and is believed to be dead.

“We had planned a memorial service for one of our party heroes Nabanyama who went missing some years ago, but police forced us to cancel the event saying the matter is very sensitive. We are shocked by the police’s behaviour because it was just a memorial service not a political gathering,” said Bhekithemba Nyathi MDC-T Bulawayo Youth Assembly Chairperson.

Nyathi added: “We had organised this memorial working together with his widow Patricia.”

He was the polling agent for Education Minister David Coltart before the MDC split in 2000. He was abducted in front of his family on June 19, 2 000 at his home in Nketa High Density suburb in Bulawayo.

In 2010 he was declared dead by the Bulawayo provincial magistrate, Rose Dube. His widow then applied to the attorney-general Johannes Tomana seeking the issuance of a certificate to carry out a private prosecution against her husband killers.

Nine war veterans and Zanu (PF) members namely Stanley Ncube, Ephraim Moyo, Julius Sibanda, Edward Ndlovu, Howard Ncube, Simon Rwodzi, A. Moyo and D. Ngoni as well as the late Cain Nkala were initial arrested in connection with Nabanyama’s disappearance, but were never charged with kidnapping and murder and were freed. Three of these alleged killers have since died.

The Nabanyama family still accuses Tomana of refusing to prosecute the surviving war veterans for their son’s death.

During the 2000 elections, many MDC supporters were murdered and the same happened in the 2008 elections.

NewsDay

By Wellington Toni

15 August 2012

David Coltart, Education, Sport, Arts and Culture minister, has admitted that sport funding must be a government priority, following the country’s Olympic Games failure in London.

His remarks on Twitter on Monday came after Zifa failed to send the Young Warriors to Angola to fulfill the second leg of the African Youth Championship over the weekend, leaving the national association at the mercy of the Confederation of African Football (Caf).

Zifa will be fined and a ban is likely.

The Olympic delegation to London comprised seven athletes and 18 officials and the Zimbabwe Olympic Committee (ZOC) had already taken the flak even before departure, for misplaced priorities where accompanying officials outnumbered competitors.

The seven athletes were Kirsty Coventry, Jamie Fraser McKenzie, Micheen Thornycroft, Chris Felgate and three marathon runners Sharon Tawengwa, Cuthberth Nyasango and Wirimai Zhuwawo.

None brought any medals.

In contrast, our smaller neighbours Botswana had five athletes and seven officials and Nijel Amos managed a silver medal in the 800m men’s final won by David Rudisha of Kenya.

But Coltart believes without funding, which must come from his inclusive government — the future of sports in the country is doomed.

And rightly so, and worse off in the case of Zifa, where its president Cuthbert Dube has to mortgage his own house for the sake of the Warriors without any government assistance.

Coltart said the starting point is to clean up the administration.

“We need to clean up the administration of sport, as much money is wasted and there is too much politics in sport which frustrates our stars.

“Unless we make sport a government funding priority, it will remain in the doldrums. Although corporate sector must help, the government must also fund,” he tweeted.

He added: “I am told that we have a superb Under-19 girls water polo side which will be competing in the Worlds in Australia in December; same squad in 2016?

“Also we need to think out of the box — what new sports are there? We can be strong at golf and sevens rugby both of which will be sports in 2016. We need to plan a national strategy. Who is likely to win medals? Where are they?

“What do they need now? Who are the best coaches? We need to start planning for Rio 2016 now.

“We have good marathon runners, rowers; Kirsty will produce more swimmers, and new sports e.g. golf.”

The minister, who has been so passionate about the revival of cricket, rugby and hockey in the country, said countries that invested more in sport attracted further investment.

“It is an interesting correlation between gross domestic product and Olympic medals. Countries which spend money on sport, win medals and then get further investment.

“I have noted the constructive criticism of some regarding Zimbabwe’s Olympic performance, and welcome it. Much work for the government and Zimbabwe Olympic Committee.”

The Zimbabwean

By Steve Eldon Kerr

14 August 2012

Senator David Coltart last week called for the diaspora to assist in Zimbabwe’s education and sports sectors, at an event organised by the Zimbabwe Business Network.

Speaking at the Royal Overseas League in London, Coltart, Minister for Education, Sports, Arts, and Culture, said that while the education and sporting systems have stabilised, they need all the help they can get to thrive in the future.

“If you want to know about the state of the education sector in Zimbabwe, just take a look at the number of medals, zero, we won at this Olympics; the sporting and education sectors are in similar states.”

“I disagree with criticism of our sports teams, Olympians and others, but I do think the results reflect the state of our country: every sector has been affected by the chaos,” said Coltart.

The Minister then outlined a five point plan to revive the education and sports systems – improving the status of teachers, rehabilitating physical infrastructure, reviewing the curriculum, improving governance, and focusing resources on the very disadvantaged – and suggested ways the diaspora can involve themselves in the plans.

“In Matabeleland South we have lost almost all our science, maths, and english teachers to South Africa, so we want to encourage Zimbabweans with those skills to come back and help,” said Coltart.

He highlighted the curriculum review, and the planned launch of 20 “academies” – schools with more autonomy to focus on student needs – as areas that diasporans with technical and administrative expertise could play a useful role in.

“We know that there are Zimbabweans who are working abroad, and who have seen many positive ideas that we could incorporate into our curriculum, or have seen things that we definitely should not include, and we need those people to help us design and administer the new education sector.”

Coltart admitted that the government has no specific diaspora policies currently in place, but said he would do as much as he could to assist those trying to come back or invest in the country.

“Funding remains a huge problem, but Zimbabweans abroad can sponsor a child’s education,” said Coltart.

“They can also pressure the government to change priorities: so far this year we have spent $35 million on defence and $5 million on education – that is not right.”

Within sports, the Minister cited the example of Kirsty Coventry. The swimmer, who has won seven Olympic medals for Zimbabwe, “will be coming home to Zimbabwe soon to open an academy for talented swimmers,” said Coltart.

“Zimbabweans in the diaspora can help our sports teams by identifying talent playing abroad or by identifying sponsors for our athletes. Sometimes I think that Zimbabwe could have one of the best Rugby teams in the world: the Australian captain is originally Zimbabwean, and so is the Scottish fullback, but they have already started playing for other countries. We need to try and get them back to Zimbabwe.”

Coltart acknowledged that many Zimbabweans now have homes and families abroad, and said he didn’t want to pressure people to return, but to see what they could arrange.

“We won’t all be as successful as Strive Masiyiwa [Econet founder], who sponsors 42,000 children through school, but we can all help.”

The Herald

By Collin Matiza

13 August 2012

A hero comes along. . . Cuthbert Nyasango runs in the London Olympic Games marathon where he distinguished himself with a top 10 finish yesterday

Magical.

Absolutely magical!

This is exactly what two top Zimbabwean long-distance runners, Cuthbert Nyasango and Wirimai Juwawo, produced when they brilliantly fought their way to finish in the Top 20 of the tough men’s marathon event during the last day of the 2012 London Olympic Games here yesterday.

The first Zimbabwean home in this race was Nyasango, who surprised all and sundry here by finishing a credible seventh, in a personal best time of 2 hours 12 minutes 08 seconds.

Nyasango wrote himself a piece of history yesterday as he became the first Zimbabwean road runner, male or female, to finish way inside the Top 10 in the history of the Olympics.

He even put into the shade Tendai Chimusasa’s outstanding performance at the 2000 Olympic Games in Sydney, Australia, where he finished ninth in the men’s marathon event.

And not to be outdone by Nyasango yesterday, was his fellow countryman Juwawo who also performed extremely well to finish in 15th place in 2 hours 14 minutes 09 seconds.

This was the Zvishavane-based athlete’s season’s best.

And both Zimbabwean runners could not contain themselves after racing themselves into international recognition by finishing in the Top 20 in yesterday’s men’s marathon, which attracted a world-class and strong field of 105 runners.

Nyasango, was in fact, at loss of words after producing what is easily his best performance at the world stage in his road running career.

“I really don’t know what to say . . . I’m overwhelmed,” Nyasango said before he broke into tears of joy soon after the race.

Nyasango later composed himself and went on to say: “The race was very tough but I’m happy that I reached my goal of finishing in the Top 10.

“I’m really overwhelmed and over the moon . . . I just can’t believe that I’ve achieved this.”

His compatriot Juwawo was equally happy although he said he was also aiming to finish in the Top 10 but his hopes of achieving this were hampered by some leg problems he faced towards the end of the race.

“Yeah, the race was fine but very tough. We raced under some very tough conditions and from the 40km mark, just two kilometres away from home, my calfs tightened up and I couldn’t run well for about 1,5km.

“I was struggling a bit and I think about four runners just went past me at this stage but I soldiered on and managed to reach home.

“But I’m happy that I finished in the Top 20 although my wish was to finish among the Top 10 but it’s fine to finish in the Top 20,” Juwawo said.

And there was joy all over in Team Zimbabwe’s camp after this race as the brilliant performances of Nyasango and Juwawo brought some relief in the team which failed to medal during the 16-day 2012 London Olympic Games.

Nyasango and Juwawo were met at the finish line by the Minister of Education, Sport, Arts and Culture David Coltart, the Team Zimbabwe’s chef de mission at the London Games Busi Chindove, Press Attache Imelda Shoko and medic Nick Munyonga.

Even the former Zimbabwe Olympic Committee chief executive, Robert Musauki, who is now the Technical Director of the Association of National Olympic Committees of Africa, was there to give Nyasango and Juwawo a pat on the back.

“I think this is a historic achievement for our country. We’ve never had an athlete who finished well inside in the Top 10 in a marathon event at the Olympics and Cuthbert Nyasango has done it.

“In fact, both guys did extremely well and I’m really happy for them . . . they’ve done us proud,” Chindove said.

Coltart was equally overjoyed.

“This is really something else. These guys have managed to finish in the Top 20 and this is good for us because this means that at these Games we have two sixth place finishes in swimming and then this Top 20 finish in the men’s marathon.

“This is really good for sport in Zimbabwe . . . I’m extremely happy for both of them,” Coltart said before he went to congratulate Nyasango and Juwawo for their brilliant performance yesterday.

Mutsauki weighed in and said: “Speaking in my personal capacity as a Zimbabwean, I think this is an impressive performance by both runners because this race was raced under very tough conditions.

“Their brilliant performance confirms the potential that we (Zimbabwe) have in road running.

“It’s also an indication that they prepared well for this event and their decision to train at home, preparing for this tough race, has paid some dividends.”

The gold medal in yesterday’s men’s marathon at the London 2012 Olympic Games went to Ugandan Stephen Kiprotich who romped home in 2:08:01. Stephen Kiprotich shot to the front with six kilometres remaining to win the 42.2km event comfortably. It was his country’s first medal of the Games and came in the final event of the athletics programme.

Twice world gold medalist Abel Kirui of Kenya was second in 2:08:27, coming home ahead of his fellow countryman and 2012 London Marathon champion Wilson Kipsang, who clocked 2:09:37.

In yesterday’s race, Kipsang made an early break, splitting the field and passing through the halfway stage in 63 minutes and 15 seconds. He was gradually reeled in and joined by Kiprotich and and Kirui by the 30km point in a three-man race for gold.

Stephen Kiprotich was just a happy man after bagging a gold medal for his country.

“I can say I am very happy to win a medal for my country. I love my people. Uganda are very happy because we haven’t won a medal in marathon races (before).

On the race itself, he said: “The pace was too fast and I knew I could not ruan away from them so I just had to keep up with them (the Kenyan runners, Wilson Kipsang and Abel Kirui). I tried to settle and then I had to break away because I wanted to win this medal.”

The race, past some of London’s most notable landmarks, started and finished in The Mall near Buckingham Palace and it comprised one short and three longer circuits through the heart of the British capital.

ZimEye

By Audrey Charowa

12 August 2012   

The Zimbabwe Olympic team received a formal send off at Zimbabwe House in Westminster, London.

The event, held last week Friday, was organised by the Zimbabwe Diaspora Olympic Support Network (ZDOSN) in conjunction with Zimbabwe Olympic Committee (ZOC) and the Zimbabwe Embassy.

Ambassador Gabriel Machinga thanked ZDOSN and the diaspora community for the phenomenal support for Zimbabwe’s Olympic team. He encouraged members of the diaspora to share ideas and use network contacts to spot and support sporting talent. He noted that there were challenges in creating this atmosphere of sporting excellence. Corporations could sponsor sporting academies. Deputy Ambassador Cecil Chinhendere expressed pride in Zimbabwe’s athletes for qualifying for the Olympics.

The Minister for Sport and Culture, David Coltart indicated that he was humbled by the support on twitter Zimbabweans have given to our Athletes. He said “Now is the time to look to the future. Zimbabwe is capable of so much more. Whatever time I have left as minister I will continue to support our Athletes, because Ministers come and go.” Minister Coltart implored Zimbabweans to unite. He acknowledged that in the last 15years Zimbabwe had been divided due to certain policies. “We need to build in our diversity. If we do this we’ll produce strong sportsmen & women.” He closed by mentioning that Kirsty Coventry was standing for election in the International Olympic Committee. This was received with thunderous applause.

ZDOSN spokes-person Glorianne Frances, commended the ZOC and ZDOSN and the throng of volunteers who worked for no pay to fundraise. Tendai Nyakudya of ZDOSN thanked members of the media, the athletes and the Ambassador for their support. ZDOSN presented a cheque for £3000 that had been raised from Boxer Derek Chisora, Dr Sylvester Nyatsuro, Knox Chitiyo, Moneygram, Econet Wireless and Zimbabwean supporters. The athletes will each be given £200 and the rest would go to the Zimbabwe Olympic Committee.

Anna Muguni, CEO of ZOC thanked Embassy Staff, Minister & Mrs Coltart, ZDOSN, Zimbabwe’s Olympic Athletes, Management and Trainers. Mrs Busi Chindove the Chef de Mission expressed great admiration for the Olympians. She thanked everyone who recognised and supported the athletes.

Among others, attendees were Ambassador Gabriel Machinga, Education Sport & Culture Minister David Coltart, Mrs Coltart, Deputy Ambassador Cecil Chinhendere, Zimbabwe Olympians, Chef de Mission Busi Chindove who was in charge of Zim Olympians, CEO of ZOC Anna Muguni, Glorianne Francis, Stanford Biti, Tawanda Chiwira, Tendai Nkakudya, Marshall Gore – Director of International Affairs at AAOE, Maxwell Gomera Deputy Director of UNEP, Felicia Munjaidi of the Zimbabwe Tourism Authority & Zimbabwe Diaspora Olympic Support Network.

Glorianne Frances closed by pledging support for Zimbabwe’s Paralympians. Ambassador Machinga invited all attendees to Club Sanganai the social club open to all Zimbabweans.