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By Elvis Dumba
A twelve-year-old Muriel Mine Primary school athlete’s dream to showcase her talents at an international stage is coming true as she will be participating at the Confederation of African Athletics African Junior Athletics Championships scheduled for April 29 to May 3 in Zambia.
PraiseGod Nyamulepa, a student at Muriel Mine Primary School in Zvimba North Costituency, booked her ticket into the national junior athletics teams after coming tops in the 100 meters race during the National Association of Primary Heads (NAPH) Athletic Competitions in Alaska, Chinhoyi, recently.
Nyamulepa said she has been maintaining pole position in all her field outings.
“I managed to win in all my attempts from the school inter-house to national level competitions, and I hope to bring gold medals home from Zambia,” she said in a recent interview
Nyamulepa paid tribute to her school teachers and mother for the encouraging support she has been receiving.
She also thanked the Zvimba North Constituency Legislator and Ministry of Local Government and Public Works Deputy Minister, Marian Chombo, for coming to her rescue through a US$500 donation towards her Zambia trip.
Minister Chombo financially supported the athlete after she had extended a begging bowl to access traveling documents and cover personal expenses for the trip.
Her mother, Helen Mlumbe, said she hoped her daughter would continue walking a successful athletic path
“I am happy my daughter is doing well, and I just hope she will earn herself a mark on the world map. I am grateful to our Member of Parliament and others who extended their hands to help us in ensuring Praise can travel to Zambia and represent the country,” she said.
“I am grateful that she is now representing her country and praying that she gets a better school where she can get more exposure as she is good in different sports, including netball.”
Her school sports teacher, John Banda, said the youngster is multi-talented and can become a world-renowned athlete if she receives the right support and training
“She came first in all the disciplines she participated in, and she got a ticket to represent Zimbabwe. With the right support and training, she will go far,” he said.
The National Athletics Association of Zimbabwe (NAAZ) has shortlisted 60 athletes for the upcoming Confederation of African Athletics African Junior Athletics Championships.
NAAZ chairperson Tendai Tagara said they will be sending a team of thirty athletes to the event.
“We are sending a team of almost 30 for the Under-18 and another 30 again for the Under-20, making a total of almost 60 athletes traveling to Zambia being shortlisted. The final team will, however, be trimmed again because there are some who will be looking for travel documents and those are some of the challenges we may encounter, but we hope that the majority will make it,” he said.
