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Benson Dube

Sikhumbuzo Moyo, Senior Sports Reporter
THE Government has reversed a decision that had been made to move the Zimbabwe National Youth Games athletics from Hwange to Bulawayo.

The decision had sent shock waves across the coal mining town and Matabeleland North Province.

The basis for the switch to White City Stadium had been that the Colliery Stadium track was not tartan, but a cinder track.

The Colliery Stadium athletics track has churned out athletes of international repute that went on to represent the country at such prestigious international competitions, such as the All-Africa Games and the Olympics.

“Athletics is back at the Colliery Stadium,” said acting permanent secretary in the Ministry of Sport and Recreation, Benson Dube yesterday.

He said no final decision had been made to strip Hwange of its hosting rights, but it was just a suggestion meant to push those on the ground to work extra harder in ensuring things were in order.

“It was probably to make people work extra hard, not necessarily that the sport code will be taken away from Hwange. The Government remains committed to making sure the majority of the 22 sport codes are held in the hosting province,” said Dube.

However, sources within the local organising committee confirmed to Chronicle Sport on Tuesday that a senior official in the Sport and Recreation Ministry had condemned the Colliery Stadium track and ordered that athletics be moved to White City Stadium.

“The decision clearly flies against the spirit of hosting these youth games because only Bulawayo and Harare have tartan tracks, yet these games are held on a rotational basis per province. Besides, the Colliery Stadium track has produced great luminaries like Zephania Ncube, Themba Ncube, Gabriel Chikomo, Abel Manyumeka, Adon Trevor, Phillip Mukomana, Savieri Ngidi, Prize Ndlovu to name just a few. We are devastated as Loc to have athletics taken away from us and so does the whole of Hwange,” the source said before Dube rescinded the decision.

Athletics is the backbone of the youth games and has a huge following in Hwange.

There have been attempts by some National Sports Associations to strip the hosting province of a number of competitions, but these have been resisted by the Sport and Recreation Ministry.

@skhumoyo2000