THE NATIONAL Athletics Association of Zimbabwe (Naaz) will not be sending athletes to the annual Sao Silvestre 10km Road Race which is held every December 31 in Angola, as they do not have funds.
SUKOLUHLE MTHETHWA SPORTS REPORTER
Kenya, Zambia, Ethiopia, Tanzania, South Africa, Portugal, Zanzibar and Brazil are some of the countries that usually take part in the New Year’s Eve race.
Naaz vice-president Enias Nhoro confirmed the development yesterday.
“The Sao Silvestre Race is always on our calendar. It is a programmed event, but we will not be able to send any athletes there because we do not have enough funds. Otherwise we would have wanted to send a team to take part,” he said.
Veteran runner Samukeliso Moyo is one of the local athletes who has represented the country in the race and has won it twice before.
Atsedu Tsegay Tesfay from Ethiopia won the Sao Silvestre race last year in the men’s category in a time of 28mins 17secs while Priscah Jeptoo from Kenya clocked 32mins 31secs in the women’s section.
According to media reports from Angola, athletics powerhouses like Ethiopia are reported to be sending 34 athletes, Kenya would be sending 30 athletes while other countries like Eritrea and Namibia are send five, DR Congo and Zanzibar( three), Portugal and Brazil (two) and Bahrain will have a representative in the race expected at attract about 100 foreigners.
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Ethiopian and Kenyan athletes have dominated the race over the years.
