WEST Devon's visitors from Swaziland left for the Olympic Village in London on Monday — and have paid tribute to all those who made their stay in the area so successful in the run-up to the 2012 Games.

Coach Muzi Mabuza said the preparation that sprinters Bruno Sibusiso Matsenjwa and Phumlile Ndzinisa experienced while staying in Tavistock had been 'fantastic' — and not just on the track or in the gym.

Muzi, 33, said: 'It's been really, really great for the kids and for us as a team.

'The warmth of the people we have met has been fantastic — in terms of culture, they will be going to London having had this camp here, having mixed with local people, been in their homes, it's been brilliant and it's quite unique, we have never had anything like this before.

'When you go to big events, like the Commonwealth Games, you are in this environment where it's like a bubble, you could be anywhere, but we have really had a sense of the country here.

'We have been to India, Daegu, Berlin, Italy, but it's never been like this.'

Muzi said the physical preparation the athletes had enjoyed had also been 'brilliant'.

'It's been quite, quite helpful for us — we had this wonderful session in Plymouth last weekend with Katherine Endacott, the sprinter, she helped us with some speed work. I was also excited to be able to meet a coach who was in Swaziland in the 1970s, the last time our country won a big medal for athletics.'

Muzi said the track at Tavistock College was 'top class' — and being able to use the gym at the college had been a huge boost. The athletes have also been able to take advantage of additional strength and conditioning work with Tavistock personal trainer Nick Lane.

Nick said: 'I've introduced them to a few new techniques, especially recovery techniques. I met up with Muzi and designed a template so that by the time it gets to the games they will be in peak condition.

'It's been a brilliant experience for me to work with athletes of this ability.'

Muzi said: 'It has been very useful for me to work with Nick — it's helped me, and it reinforces what I tell the kids. Sometimes when you do things a different way, the kids say "Why do I have to do that, Muzi?" but when they hear someone else saying it too, it makes a difference!

'We've learned some new ideas and about doing things in a different way — it's been very helpful.'

Muzi said this Olympics would be a building block for his protegées Bruno and Phumlile. Their current personal best times are 21.02 for the 200 metres (Bruno) and 53.77 for the 400 metres (Phumlile).

'The main target is to do at least a personal best — our real aims are for the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow in 2014, and the next Olympics in 2016,' said Muzi.

'The potential is there in Swaziland, and the talent — it's a matter of developing it,' he said.

'I saw the potential in Phumlile — she was doing 59 seconds for the 400 metres and after only one year of training she's down to 53.

'It's also a matter of retaining talent in our country. The level is a bit low because we haven't had a successful athlete for such a long time.

'I would love for one of my athletes to get a medal one day — I hope to achieve it before I die,' said Muzi, a PE teacher at Salesian High School in Manzini, Swaziland's second city.

Phumlile will be competing in the heats of the 400 metres on August 3 — Bruno competes in the heats of the 200 metres on August 7.

'But remember — watch out for 2014!' said Muzi.