Matebeleland North athletes face serious equipment shortages

Young athletes in Matebeleland North are reportedly being forced to prepare for national competitions using improvised equipment such as stones for shot put and sticks for hurdles due to a severe shortage of proper sporting resources at school level.

The challenges were highlighted following the National Association of Secondary School Heads (NASH) athletics championships held in Kadoma, where the province still managed a notable showing despite limited resources.

Matabeleland North NAPH vice secretary Edward Mudimba of Binga said the lack of standard athletics equipment is significantly affecting athlete development and performance.

"In some cases, learners are using stones for throwing events and sticks for hurdles at school level. By the time they reach national competitions, they are not familiar with standard equipment," he said.

The province sent a delegation of 121 participants drawn from all seven districts, with officials noting gradual improvement in performance at national level. However, they stressed that resource constraints continue to limit progress.

Mudimba said the problem is most visible in field events such as shot put, discus, javelin, and high jump, where proper technique depends heavily on consistent access to standard equipment.

He added that many schools also lack essential facilities such as landing mats, uprights, and crossbars, making proper training difficult.

Despite these limitations, athletes from the province continue to compete against better-resourced regions, underscoring what officials describe as significant untapped talent.

"There is talent in our children, but without proper equipment and financial support, it becomes difficult to fully develop that potential," Mudimba said.

Stakeholders have called for increased investment in school sports infrastructure, arguing that access to standard equipment is essential for long-term athlete development and competitiveness at national and international levels.