Six Zim Athletes Start on Track Scholarships in the U.S.

Six Zimbabwean track and field student athletes have started university on sports scholarships in the United States this month. The six all have represented Zimbabwe internationally in competition with five studying on full athletic scholarships at NCAA Division 1 universities and the sixth at an NAIA school.

Five of the six attended a half day pre-departure orientation for student athletes. This was held by Education Matters Student Athlete Cohort Coordinator Alexandra Maseko. Education USA Country Coordinator Tafadzwa Muzhandu was also present to facilitate.

Three of the student athletes are long and triple jumpers and three are sprinters. They include Chengetayi Mapaya, from St George’s College and sprinter Tinotenda Matiyenga from Prince Edward School, are attending Texas Christian University. Churchill High School jumper Cloud Masibhera and Kundayi Maguranyanga from Pamushana High will be studying at Drake University, coached by famed Zimbabwean international athlete Ngoni Makusha. Victor Mathuthu who hails from Northlea High School in Bulawayo will be jumping at the University of North Carolina Asheville, while St John’s College graduate Nigel Jena will be sprinting for Indiana Institute of Technology.

All six have posted impressive personal best times and jumps during their high school careers, and with the added coaching and resources that they will have access to training and competing at high levels, we are excited to watch them progress and continue to raise Zimbabwe’s flag high.