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Sukulwenkosi Dube-Matutu, Gwanda Correspondent
THE Matabeleland South provincial cross country competitions will be held in Maphisa later this month in preparation for the national competitions set for Bulawayo next month.

Matabeleland South Athletics Board chairman, Phakamile Lisimati, said the competitions would be held on January 21 and districts were expected to turn up in numbers.

“This year’s provincial cross country competitions will be held at Mabonyane Dam in Maphisa area. As a board we decided that the role of hosting the competitions has to rotate from one district to the other so that we can identify as much talent as possible. Last year the competitions were held in Plumtree while next year they will move to another district.

We appeal to schools in Matobo District and locals to utilise their opportunity of hosting and turn up in large numbers in support of this programme. We also expect good attendance and representation from other districts as well,” he said.

Lisimati said participants will be competing in four categories namely the cadets, youths, juniors and seniors.

He said the cadets comprised youngsters below the age of 18. The national athletics coach said the cadets was the most crucial category as it was the stage where they identified talented athletes, nurtured and marketed them through competitions.

He said the board had various clubs dotted around the province that were responsible for recruiting participants for the competitions.

Lisimati said they were also working with school athletics bodies namely Nash and Naph in order to identify participants.

“As a board it is our wish that we hold such competitions at grassroots level throughout the year and camps to train athletes so that we can properly nurture them but finances remain a hindrance. There are a lot of talented youngsters within the province who haven’t been identified because we haven’t reached them.

“Therefore we appeal to various stakeholders such as members of the business community to partner us in order to develop our communities through sports. This is an important investment because sport can turn out to be a career path for many youths,” Lisimati said.

He said they were trying to eliminate the syndrome of youngsters flocking into neighbouring countries in search of jobs upon completing education but without obtaining any skills.

Lisimati said provincial track and field competitions were set to be held soon in Gwanda among other competitions. — @DubeMatutu