Staff Reporter
Renowned athletics legend and seasoned coach, Partson Muderedzi, has been elected Midlands Athletics Board (MAB) Chairperson. The elections were held recently in Gweru, with Muderedzi, a former Zimbabwe National Athletics Team captain, taking the helm to lead the province’s athletics revival. He will be deputized by Costar Takawira.
Muderedzi, a Redcliff native, boasts an illustrious career spanning decades. Once celebrated as one of Zimbabwe’s fastest sprinters during his tenure with Ziscosteel Athletics Club from 1983 to 1998, he represented the country in sprints, hurdles, and relays at various regional, continental, and international competitions. His leadership experience includes roles as the National Athletics Coach and Director of Coaching for the National Athletics Association of Zimbabwe (NAAZ), alongside coaching positions at institutions like Kwekwe Polytechnic and Stars for Christ Athletics Academy, which he founded.
In an interview with The Midlands Observer, Muderedzi expressed his commitment to revitalizing Midlands athletics, pledging to restore the province to its former glory as a powerhouse in Zimbabwean sport.
“I want to bring some professional order in our sport, targeting our athletes, coaches, and officials. Midlands athletics belongs at the top, and that is where I intend to take it,” said Muderedzi.
His vision for the future focuses on addressing long-standing challenges such as financial instability and the lack of exposure for local talent.
“Financial stability is our main challenge. As a committee, we will seek support from the corporate world and individuals willing to invest in our athletes. Our goal is to make Midlands the national, regional, and international guru in athletics,” said Muderedzi.
Muderedzi also emphasized the importance of exposing athletes to international competition. “We want to ensure our athletes visit countries like South Africa and Botswana to gain exposure and learn from others. This will be rooted in good governance and financial stability,” he added.
With qualifications that include a World Athletics Level Two coaching certificate, an Olympic scholarship from the Australian Institute of Sport, and several awards recognizing his contributions to youth sports, Muderedzi’s appointment is a promising development for Midlands athletics.
His efforts will focus on fostering a professional environment for athletes, coaches, and officials while building partnerships to fund programs that nurture talent and enable athletes to compete internationally.
