Games gather momentum…Region 5 boss Mbebe in town Africa Union Sports Council (AUSC) Region 5 secretary-general Mvuzo Mbebe (right) met at the Joshua Mqabuko Nkomo International Airport by (from left) AUSC Region 5 general-manager Stanley Mutoya, Nyararai Sibanda, an unidentified protocol officer and LOC chairperson Khonzani Ncube yesterday.
Africa Union Sports Council (AUSC) Region 5 secretary-general Mvuzo Mbebe (right) met at the Joshua Mqabuko Nkomo International Airport by (from left)  AUSC Region 5 general-manager Stanley Mutoya, Nyararai Sibanda, an unidentified protocol officer and LOC chairperson Khonzani Ncube yesterday.

Africa Union Sports Council (AUSC) Region 5 secretary-general Mvuzo Mbebe (right) met at the Joshua Mqabuko Nkomo International Airport by (from left) AUSC Region 5 general-manager Stanley Mutoya, Nyararai Sibanda, an unidentified protocol officer and LOC chairperson Khonzani Ncube yesterday.

Ricky Zililo Senior Sports Reporter
THE euphoria over the sixth edition of the African Union Sports Council Region 5 Under-20 Youth Games whose official opening is tomorrow at Barbourfields Stadium is gathering momentum following arrival of some participating countries.

African Union Sports Council Region 5 secretary-general Mvuzo Mbebe also jetted in yesterday.

Ten countries – Angola, Botswana, Lesotho, Namibia, Malawi, Mozambique, South Africa, Swaziland, Zambia and the host nation Zimbabwe will compete in eight disciplines which are athletics, basketball, boxing, football, judo, netball, swimming and tennis.

Team South Africa touched down at the Joshua Mqabuko Nkomo International Airport yesterday in three batches on chartered flights with the first group arriving in the morning, followed by the second contingent just after lunchtime while the last group arrived in the evening.

Angola’s team also jetted into Bulawayo yesterday afternoon with 65 athletes and officials joining their 20-member advance party which arrived in Bulawayo on Monday.

Addressing the media at the Joshua Mqabuko Nkomo International Airport where she had gone to welcome Mbebe, Khonzani Ncube, the local organising committee chairperson said they were expecting most countries late last night.

Ncube said they have set up protocol desks at all border posts to assist teams with procedures and avoid delays when the visitors are coming in.

She said Mozambique were by mid-morning yesterday at Nyamapanda border post, while Malawi, Swaziland and Lesotho were expected to arrive this morning.

Namibia and Botswana were expected to pass through Plumtree border post yesterday while Zambia were yet to confirm which mode of transport they were using.

“What we know is that Zambia are coming tomorrow but they haven’t confirmed which route or mode of transport they’re using. There won’t be delays at border posts for those that are travelling by road because we’ve protocol officers to assist them at various entry points,” Ncube said.

From the airport Ncube and her LOC went for a meeting with Mbebe to brief him on the country’s state of preparedness.

Mbebe also passed through the Command Centre at the Bulawayo Polytechnic where accreditation is being done.

“On accreditation everything is sailing smoothly and we had the Angolans who arrived on Monday going through the process. There were no challenges met and we expect the process to continue as it’s ahead of the start of the Games,” said Ncube.

The Games running under the theme “Reach for greatness” will end on December 14.

The greatness that the Games will leave for Bulawayo are facilities that have been renovated and will be capable of playing host to international events.

White City Stadium will be home to athletics and netball, Bulawayo Athletics Club (tennis), City Pool (swimming), Luveve and Barbourfields Stadium (football).

Boxing will be held at the City Hall with judo and basketball set for the ZITF.

All athletes will be based at Hillside Teachers’ College which is the Games’ Village.

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