Athlete Gift Kawale dropped, squad set for Tokyo Olympics qualifier,
Athlete Gift Kawale was axed from the squad that is expected to compete in the All Comers Track and Field event at Heroes Stadium in Lusaka Zambia today.
Kawale has missed the 2021 Tokyo Olympics qualifying games on disciplinary grounds as he sneaked out of the camp prior to the team’s departure on Wednesday.
However, the squad coach Pachisi Nyasulu opted to comment on the five athletes that are carrying the nation’s hopes.
“The athletes are ready to compete. As a coach. I have done my best. I am going to encourage them to work hard and not to be afraid. Nevertheless, we do not have electronic timing in Malawi but hand timing and we will see how it works,” he said.
One of the athletes Asimenye Simwaka said it was their wish to do well.
“We will apply what our coaches told us. On our part we are ready and we will work hard to do well,” she said.
Simwaka will compete in 200m and 400m events while another star Stern Liffa will race in 100m and 200m. The duo did well in another championship which Zambia hosted recently.
Sunganani Namakonje will compete in 400m and 800m while Allan Chirwa [not the musician] will try his luck in 800m.
Another well-known athlete Mercy Malembo will compete in 1500m.
The competition has attracted 250 athletes from seven African countries.
