Mr Jamie Dickson: My experience with the 

Chengelo Elite Athletics Squad

It’s nearly four months now since I left Chengelo and it feels even further away than the five thousand miles it actually is! When I tell people about my time there one of the things I’m always excited to share is what’s happening with the Elite Athletics Squad. It’s a group with serious potential and it was amazing to see how far they came on even in the seven months I spent with them. This blog will be my attempt at summing up my experience with each of the athletes.

Chigomezyo
 
The oldest member of the squad, Chigo is definitely also the most mature. He was new to Chengelo at the same time as me, the only difference was everyone already knew he was: the guy from Amano with the ISAZ record! However, Chigo is much more than just a quick runner. He’s a hard working, modest, outgoing, kind man after God’s own heart. Within very little time at Chengelo he was known and liked by everybody - staff and pupils. It’s this attitude that makes Chigo such a good athlete. His willingness to constantly work hard and learn from others never failed to impress me. If Chigo stays humble and continues to strive for success, the world is truly his oyster.

Johanna
 
As the youngest member of the squad, Johanna was always the athlete whose dedication to training hard impressed me most. To be so focused on developing her talent at the age of twelve is something I’ve never seen before, and that’s what makes me think she’ll go on to do great things. Although she is very young, Johanna shows incredible maturity both on and off the track. On top of training she studies very hard, relates well to others and stays humble despite achieving so much. If I had national schools records when I was that age I wouldn’t have been half as modest as she is! It’s very important, however, that Johanna keeps doing what she’s doing. Lots of young athletes burn out as they grow older and the only way to stop that from happening is to keep working hard and stay focused, even when the times aren’t getting any quicker.

Maria
 
Maria is another incredible young talent. She trains very hard, always has a smile on her face and I think if it weren’t for her struggling with injuries this year she would have achieved just as much as her sister did. Either way, there are many years to come and a lot more races to be won! From both coaching Maria as part of the squad and teaching her in PE, I know that she’s very hard working and will go on to achieve big things. The relationship that Maria and Johanna have is great to see as they constantly challenge, encourage and motivate each other. It’s great for them both to have that competition that they wouldn’t be getting from anyone else. One of my lasting memories of the squad was watching the two of them take part in the Queen of the Sprints race in my last week at Chengelo. In this race I saw that Maria had come through her problems with injury and was back on form, outpacing her younger sister on this occasion!

Kikwanza
 
When I tell people in the UK about the talent at Chengelo I’m always quick to mention the sixteen year old that can run sub-eleven for the one hundred metres! Kiki is an amazing talent and it was fantastic to be able to coach him while I was there. I can honestly say he’s the fastest person I’ve ever met and, having ran and played rugby both with and against him, I’ve been astounded by that pace plenty of times. The only issue is that he knows this! It can be difficult to make someone train when they think of themselves as the “Young Bolt”. That said, I did notice Kiki mature a lot even in the short time I was at Chengelo. Racing at big events with the Zambian Athletics Association helps to serve as a reminder that he can always be faster and, if he wants to achieve all that he could, he’s always going to have to train hard. Some of the best training performances I saw from any of the athletes were from Kikwanza when he had his head in the right place and if he can train like that regularly I see no reason why he couldn’t compete at the highest level one day.

Herbert
 
Never in my life have I met anyone with as varied sporting abilities as Herbert. Volleyball, rugby, football, sprinting, long distance, javelin, hockey, basketball: the list goes on and on. In everything he did he seemed to excel. The thing that impresses me most about Herbert, though, is his long distance running. Having trained fairly hard for this year's Rockridge race I thought I’d do pretty well but watching Herbert disappear off in front of me on the opening straight put me well and truly in my place. The only struggle I can see Herbert having with sport is that he’ll have too much choice. It’s difficult to train hard with Athletics when there are about five other teams asking you to train at the same time! Whatever it is Herbert sets his mind to, I’m sure he will continue to impress!


Just writing this has served as a reminder of how much I miss Chengelo and particularly the Athletics Squad. I pray that they continue to achieve big things but above all that they would do all of this in The Lord’s name. He has blessed them with these skills and they are a real testimony to His power. Love to everyone at Chengelo and I look forward to the possibility of seeing some of you in the UK some time soon!

Mr Jamie Dickson             

            

CEAS share their thoughts about training!

 An insight into athletics training.

Being part of the Chengelo Elite Athletics Squad doesn't just involve participating in competitions. The athletes work hard throughout the year, completing all kinds of training sessions. From Fartlek training at 5:30am to circuit training in the evening, the squad have experienced many ways of improving fitness, technique and condition. Much commitment and determination is required and the CEAS have learned that hard work in training leads to success in competition.

"What I’ve learned in my years of running is that no matter the training schedule, 

if you don’t push yourself, you won’t go anywhere. With my team, though we were 

separated in groups based on times, people exceeded far beyond expectations, 

regardless of their group positions. Some didn’t. Why? Because they were the 

ones who pushed themselves. We were doing similar workouts. It just takes an 

extra amount of determination and effort to make it on top."

Quote from "Soulrunner", an anonymous blogger.

Herbert Mithi, Maria Bangala and Johanna Bangala resting between sets.

Chigomezyo Kawonga out on the track during a Saturday morning session.

"As the Elite Athletics Squad the majority of our time is spent on the track or in the gym. Our training is orchestrated by our coach, Mr J Gibbons. We meet frequently during the week, topping a minimum of 5 hours a week. We have our training sessions in the cool of the morning, on some days and more often than not, we have the opportunity to train in the afternoon. Training sessions can be amicable and fun, but at the end of each session Mr Gibbons wants to see that we have done our best, for as his motto goes, “If you want to be the best, you have to train better than the rest”. Training is a time where we, on an individual level and a team level, get to focus on what we love doing, athletics. It’s a time we can share that joy and love with those who do it best."

Chigomezyo Kawonga     

Maria feeling the pain during Oregon circuit training.

"Training is not as hard when you put your mind to it and say "I'm going to do it!" We do different sessions, for example Circuit training. This involves doing different exercises for thirty seconds and resting in between. It's hard, but if you tell yourself that you're going to do it, you will. It just takes that extra effort, even if it is not a big effort, but as long as you have done something extra it can make the difference.

Training is about pushing yourself further. Even if you are tired, you know that you have done something for the day and that at the end of it all, you are fitter or stronger than you were before. We sometimes do Pyramid Training which is really, really hard. It involves running 200 metres, then 400 metres, then 600 metres, then 800 metres and back down to 600, 400 and 200. Tough right? But it is not something that is impossible to do. I won't lie, it is challenging. But that is good!"

Maria Bangala        

Kikwanza Sondashi trying to motivate himself for another run-out.

Kiki working on technique during a morning session.

"Training is hard. I think this is good because it helps you to become fitter. Pyramid training is an example of this. It is very effective because it makes you feel fitter and improves speed endurance. However, the more you train, the easier it becomes.
 
My favourite type of training is 50m run-outs because I can develop my sprinting technique and I can easily do it alone. It is also nice to train with other people because it helps to motivate me when I have someone I can try and beat.
 
In training, you have to be determined to be able to make good improvements. I always keep in my mind the fact that there are better athletes than me and my target is to become better than them.
 
When you've had a bad day and you come for training with a bad attitude, it affects your performance. Always try to have a positive attitude towards your training."

Kikwanza Sondashi    

   

Herbert Mithi during another set of squat thrusts.

Johanna taking a break during 'Caterpillar Walks'.

"Training is certainly a very important part of an athlete's life. It is supposed to be difficult (my coach always says) and requires self-motivation if improvements are to be made. My coach endlessly tells me "If you want to beat the best, you've gotta train better than the rest." This phrase is true, but even if you have the toughest training sessions with the most commanding and highly experienced coach, you won't achieve anything if you don't have the desire or ambition to make great improvements through effort and determination and by pushing your limits through every exercise.

Everything starts up there in your mind, which is supported by your heart's desire to be great. You have to want it and be mentally determined to push through the "pain barrier" so that you can be the best that you can possibly be.

"I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." Philippians 4:13

Believe it and you'll achieve it!"

Johanna Bangala