Naaz speaks on new calendar

Sport
THE National Athletics Association of Zimbabwe (Naaz) has challenged the government and the corporate world to support athletics so that the country could have full representation in regional and international events.

THE National Athletics Association of Zimbabwe (Naaz) has challenged the government and the corporate world to support athletics so that the country could have full representation in regional and international events.

RONALD MOYO SPORTS REPORTER

Commenting on the 2015 athletics calendar, Naaz vice-president Enias Nhoro yesterday told Southern Eye Sport that the association was happy with events, but worried about participation in regional and international competitions.

The 2015 athletics calendar produced by Naaz on Friday has over 60 events.

“We are looking forward to the government and corporate support for this coming season. We are happy with the calendar because there are a number of events. We wish to fulfill all those regional, continental and international events.

They are good for the development of our athletes especially junior athletes. We hope our athletes will get financial support.

“If we managed to successfully host regional youth games to what is then difficult for us to fund our teams?” Nhoro said.

Athletes will take part in at least eight regional and international competitions, with the first event out of the country scheduled for February 28 in the Seychelles.

In this event the selected national cross-country teams will take part in the regional cross country event. In March junior athletes will take part in the continental 12th edition of the CAA junior championships slated for Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

The last Saturday of March will see athletes taking part in the IAAF World Cross-Country Championships to be hosted by Guiyang, China.

Mauritius will host the four-day CAA youth championships scheduled for April 23-26 before hosting the Southern Region senior championships on May 30 to 31.

Naaz will also be looking forward to sending athletes to Angola on April 25-26 for the Southern Region Youth championships.

The last international event of the 2015 season will be the IAAF World senior championships slated for Beijing, China from August 22 to 30.

All other events that will take place from September 2015 fall under the 2016 athletics calendar.