Published by the government of Zimbabwe
Petros Kausiyo
21 July 2007
Algiers — THERE were two more medals for Zimbabwe at the 2007 All-Africa Games in Algiers, Algeria, when the chess and sailing teams claimed silver and bronze respectively yesterday.
International chess master Robert Gwaze led Zimbabwe to another silver medal while sailor Patrick McCosh won bronze.
The chess and sailing teams' exploits took to 19 the number of medals that Zimbabwe now have at the continental sports showcase -- a huge improvement from the paltry seven medals which the team that represented the country in Abuja, Nigeria, managed in 2003.
Gwaze, playing in his first All-Africa Games competition, started slowly drawing, his opening two matches but he raised his game as the tournament progressed, helping Zimbabwe to a crucial 1½, 1½ draw against giants Egypt in the round robin games.
The Egyptians eventually won the gold that Zimbabwe manager Charles Kuwaza still believes should have come his team's way.
Kuwaza said Farai Mandizha and Rodwell Makoto had narrowly missed on silver and bronze medals but Spencer Masango had struggled for form at the Games.
"We played the tough guys first and finished against lightweights like Sao Tome é Principe, Seychelles and Kenya.
"Robert Gwaze drew his first two games but then started winning. Most teams brought six players but we only have four and a player needed to play at least eight rounds to be in line for a medal.
"Farai just missed silver by a whisker. He was pipped by a Zambian and so was Makoto, who came fourth in his board. There has been good competition but it has also been very hot inside the Cultural Centre (venue of the competition)," said Kuwaza.
The 25-year-old Gwaze, who is aspiring to be a grandmaster, said he was happy to have won his first All-Africa Games medal after years of competing in different international competitions. Zimbabwe began their bid for a chess medal on a low note after losing 3-1 to Nigeria, regained their composure to beat Namibia 4-0, Angola 2 and 1/2, 11/2 and drawing with South Africa 2-2.
They were then held to a draw by the Egyptians before posting impressive wins over Seychelles, Eritrea and the 4-0 demolition of Kenya in their penultimate game.
Kuwaza was, however, confident his team could secure another medal today when they play in the Blitz tournament -- a faster version of chess.
"We have a decent chance of securing a medal in the Blitz but our aim is to have gold from that tournament," said Kuwaza.
In sailing, McCosh, competing in the laser standard category, secured Zimbabwe's fifth bronze medal after finishing third, while Dennis Lapham managed an eighth place finish in the laser radial class.
Alistair Bowen Davis was 14th in the optimist and the pair of Andrew and Faber Murray were placed 16th and 19th.
At the main competition venue at the 5 July Stadium, there were impressive shows by the men's and women's 4x100m relay teams and a place in the 400m final by United States-based sprinter Talkmore Nyongani late on Thursday night. Nyongani is the only Zimbabwean in the 400m final after finishing third overall in 45,66s behind Sudan's Ali Nagmedin in (45,25s) and Botswana's California Molefe.
First on the track for the women on Thursday night was 110m hurdler Tamla Pietersen, who came fifth in her heat in 14,9seconds.
Eaglesvale High School O-level student Pietersen then teamed up with Sandra Chimwaza, Sophia Chirairo and Nobuhle Ncube in the 4x100m relay in which they qualified for last night's final after finishing second in their heat in 46,08s behind a strong Cote d'Ivoire team that came home in 44,78s.
Then it was the turn of the 4x100m relay team of Ngonidzaishe Makusha, Gabriel Mvumvure, Brian Dzingai and Lewis Banda to contest for a place in the final from heat one and they did not disappoint either, clocking a new Zimbabwe record of 39,33s. The previous national 4x100m record was 40,01s.
But it was a different story in the half marathon for the duo of Wirimayi Zhuwawo and Tabitha Tsatsa as they struggled in the humid and mountainous conditions of Algiers. Zhuwawo came a distant 10th in the half marathon in 1hr, 6min, 09s which Ethiopia's Deriba Merga won in 59,42s followed by his countryman Esheth Wondumu in 1,00,08s and Tanzania's John Yuda (1,00,37).
Tsatsa clocked 1,17,33 to finish seventh in her category that was won by Algerian Souad Ait Salem in 1,13,35s.
Tsatsa conceded that she had found the Algiers terrain tough but said she was now shifting her focus to the IAAF World Championships in Japan.
"It was a tough race but I will take it as part of my preparations for the World Championships.
"All my attention is now on the World Championships in Japan and I will be preparing from home and possibly go to South Africa before I go to Japan," said Tsatsa.
Elsewhere, the rowing team also stayed in the hunt for a medal with brothers Ryan and Liam Colahan reaching the men's doubles final scheduled for today while Elana Hill also made to the women's singles final.
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