The Parade April 2013 | Page 55

Sports As Collen wins the 2010 50km IAU World championship in Ireland World Champ bemoans lack of corporate support Sports Writer, CHITUNGWIZA Z imbabwean & former 50km IAU World Champion, Collen Makaza, has bemoaned the lack of support on the part of the corporate sector, saying this will not, however, deter him from helping uplift sport in the community from which he hails. Makaza expressed these sentiments as he begins planning for the 2013 edition of Mr Pace Marathon, which he has practically been sponsoring direct from his pockets. The gesture, he said, was part of his desire to give back to the community and at the same time identify and nurture talent that lies in abundance mostly in high density areas. Makaza made history when in 2010 he beat the world record by romping home first in the elite global race. Unfortunately, he failed to defend his title in 2011 due to a nagging injury, and was conspicuous by his absence at Aspen, the Netherlands, since he could not travel. Last year he took part in the race, but his achievement could not surpass the feat posted in 2010. What the former champion fails to understand now is why the corporate world does not want to complement the work he is doing for the benefit of both their clientele base and the country at large. His brainchild, Mr Pace Marathon - which is the last race on the calendar of the National Athletics Association of Zimbabwe - had its last edition run from Harare’s Central Business District, through the high density suburb of Mbare and surrounds, and ended at the Aquatic Complex in Chitungwiza. It had categories for Seniors, Juniors and U13s, and was split into the main 42.2km and the 5km distances. Gilbert Mutandiro, a top athlete who has made it on the international scene, was the first one home in the main race while Sharon Tavengwa, another household name, scooped the women’s category prize money. But it is the prize money at stake that makes Makaza feel not enough is being done to support efforts such as his. Out of a total $2 160 he managed to put on the table, for instance, all that the two winners in the Seniors category could take home was $300 apiece. “Nobody seems to understand the scope behind this race which I initiated in 2009. But the whole idea is not only to identify talent in these communities per se, but also to afford participating The Parade - Zimbabwe’s Most Read Lifestyle Magazine Pictures courtesy of squidoo.com athletes qualifying times in such races as Comrades, Two Oceans and City to City and Soweto Marathon. “It is run under the auspices of the Harare Athletics Board, NAAZ and IAAF. We also seek to bring athletics to the people, which explains why it is run in the communities,” he said. Minister of Information and Publicity, Webster Shamu, was the Guest of Honour at the finishing point. Collen running with compatriot and friend, Stephen Muzhingi, as part of the F1 team during the 2010 Comrades Marathon in South Africa April 2013 Page 55