AAM to build Brazil Olympics’ team around Moyo

Athletics Association of Malawi (AAM) will build their 2016 Brazil Olympics team around prominent long-distance runner Henry Moyo to enhance their chances of winning gold medals.

AAM president Godfrey Phiri said this after the multi-international title holder finished sixth during last Sunday’s exhaustive 90-kilometre Comrades Marathon in South Africa.

Said Phiri: “We want to have a strong squad that can guarantee us medals at the Brazil Olympics. We will have a number of athletes in the team, but we depend on Moyo to be sure that we will bring home gold medals from the event.

“Moyo is one of the few local athletes to have finished on a good position in international races; so, we have decided to build our team around him.”

The AAM boss has, therefore, urged companies to support Moyo’s training ahead of the international competition and have opportunity of promoting their brands through the Malawi Police Service sub-inspector.

“Companies that will support Moyo during his preparations will have their logos or products printed on his attire both in the country and at the international event. This is the trend elsewhere and we want to try it.” Phiri said.

In a telephone interview on Wednesday, Moyo said he was humbled to be granted such an honour by the local athletics body.

“This is a great honour to me. I will make sure that I do not disappoint in Brazil,” he said.

At the Comrades Marathon, Moyo finished 14 minutes behind eventual winner, South African Claude Moshiywa,

The Zomba-based ultra-marathon runner has won several prestigious international races, including the 56km 2011 Nong’oma Marathon and the 2007 Nelson Mandela Heroes Marathon in South Africa and the 2005 Kualar Lumpar International Marathon in Malaysia.