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Sikhumbuzo Moyo Senior Sports Reporter
BULAWAYO has raised about 20 percent of their targeted $80,000 budget for the 2016 edition of the annual Zimbabwe National Youth Games set for Chinhoyi in Mashonaland West in August. The Games will run from August 13-21.

Sports and Recreation Commission (SRC) coordinator for Bulawayo Sam Dzvimbu said they had lined up a number of fundraising activities in the countdown to the Youth Games.

“So far we’ve managed to raise about $15,000 for the Games. Our target is $80,000 and we plan to hold some activities we hope will help us reach that figure,” said Dzvimbu.

He said they would have a musical gala, a football tournament featuring teams from the Bulawayo Christian League, as well as a golf tournament set for Harry Allen Golf Club.

“Our musical gala will be on July 29, while the football tournament is set for White City Stadium the following day. The golf tournament will also be on July 30,” Dzvimbu said.

The province hopes to send 208 competing athletes, 43 coaches and a management team of 15 officials.

Local businessmen Raj Modi and Clemence Kunzekweguta have since pledged assistance to Team Bulawayo. Modi, who runs Liquor Hub in the city, pledged to provide food during the team’s entire camping period in preparation for the Games, while Kunzekweguta, who runs Zero Supplies, said he would provide the entire delegation with T-Shirts.

Manicaland province won last year’s Games that they hosted, although the expulsion of Matabeleland South and Harare provinces marred the event.

The hosts amassed 12 gold medals. Bulawayo emerged seventh.

The Zimbabwe National Youth Games were inaugurated in 2003 with Bulawayo playing host, while Masvingo hosted the second event. They are held on a rotational basis between provinces annually and have since completed the full cycle of the country’s 10 provinces, having been held in their birth province Bulawayo last year.

The Games are an endeavour to fulfil the SRC’s mandate to facilitate for access to sport and recreation opportunities for all and also to set the foundation for the attainment of high performance sports participation to the Region Five, African Games and the Olympics. In addition, they also present an opportunity for participation in several invitational, regional, continental and international competitions.

The draw for this year’s Games has already been conducted.

Team sport draws conducted at Chinhoyi Caves

Basketball: Girls

Pool A Pool B:

1 Mash West 6 Harare

2 Bulawayo 7 Midlands

3 Manicaland 8 Masvingo

4 Mash East 9 Mat South

5 Mash Central 10 Mat North

Basketball: boys

Pool A Pool B

1 Mash West 6 Harare

2 Midlands 7 Mat North

3 Mat South 8. Masvingo

4 Bulawayo 9 Manicaland

5 Mash Central 10 Mash East

Handball: girls

Pool A Pool B

1 Mash West 6 Masvingo

2 Manicaland 7 Midlands

3 Mat South 8 Harare

4 Bulawayo 9 Mash Central

5 Mash East 10 Mat North

Handball: boys

Pool A Pool B

1 Mash West 6 Midlands

2 Harare 7 Mash East

3 Bulawayo 8 Manicaland

4 Mash Central 9 Mat North

5 Masvingo 10 Mat South

Netball

Pool A Pool B

1 Mash West 6 Harare

2 Manicaland 7 Mat North

3 Mash East 8 Mash Central

4 Bulawayo 9 Midlands

5 Masvingo 10 Mat South

Football: girls

Pool A Pool B

1 Mash West 6 Mash Central

2 Mash East 7 Masvingo

3 Midlands 8 Bulawayo

4 Mat North 9 Harare

5 Manicaland 10 Mat South

Football: boys

Pool A Pool B

1 Mash West 6 Bulawayo

2 Mat South 7 Mash Central

3 Mat North 8 Midlands

4 Harare 9 Mash East

5 Masvingo 10 Manicaland

Volleyball: girls

Pool A Pool B

1 Mash West 6 Mash East

2 Harare 7 Midlands

3 Masvingo 8 Mash Central

4 Mat North 9 Bulawayo

5 Mat South 10 Manicaland

Volleyball: boys

Pool A Pool B

1 Mash West 6 Mash East

2 Bulawayo 7 Midlands

3 Mat North 8 Mat South

4 Mash Central 9 Masvingo

5 Manicaland 10 Harare

Tennis: girls

Pool A Pool B

1 Mash West 6 Bulawayo

2 Manicaland 7 Mat South

3 Harare 8 Mash Central

4 Midlands 9 Mash East

5 Masvingo 10 Mat North

Tennis: boys

Pool A Pool B

1 Mash West 6 Harare

2 Mash Central 7 Mat North

3 Bulawayo 8 Masvingo

4 Mat South 9 Manicaland

5 Mash East 10 Midlands