Zimpapers Logo

Minister Makhosini Hlongwane

Sikhumbuzo Moyo in Hwange
THE Government has urged organisers of the annual Youth Camp to invite national sports legends to share their experiences with young athletes.

Speaking at the official launch of this year’s Youth Camp at the ongoing Zimbabwe National Youth Games in Hwange on Monday, Sport and Recreation Minister Makhosini Hlongwane said inviting sporting icons is important and enriching if objectives of the Youth Camp programme are to be achieved.

“Beginning next year, let us invite these sporting models to be part of this camp. If the likes of Peter Ndlovu, who come from this part of the country, were invited, it would have meant a lot to these young athletes, so starting next year bring those role models to inspire athletes into pursuing sports as a career,” said Hlongwane.

He said sport has the potential of employing many young people with huge capital requirements and all that’s required is one’s talent.

“Demonstrate your talent and make millions of dollars. (Brazilian footballer) Neymar was bought for $245 million, just to transfer from one team to another. Just from his legs he has become a potent force for sport in the world,” Hlongwane said.

He urged the young athletes to take sport seriously by using their God-given talent wisely. He also implored the youngsters to respect rules of competitions, which is what sport teaches.

“As the Ministry of Sport and Recreation, we don’t want a thug that will just score goals; we want an athlete, a true athlete, a person who knows how to lose and how to deal with winning, and those are important psychological issues.”

Introduced at the ninth edition of the National Youth Games in Matabeleland South in 2011, the Youth Camp programme comprises classroom lectures and group discussions, covering topics such as sport as a career, leadership, Olympism and cultural exchange through sport.

The objective is to equip young athletes with relevant information and knowledge applicable to real life situations and to inspire them take up sport as a career.

It is in response to the need to ensure young people have an appreciation of the role of sport for holistic development of the individual and nation building.

It also compliments Zim-Asset, other national policies and international conventions as well as the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.