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Sikhumbuzo Moyo, Senior Sports Reporter
National Association of Primary School Heads (Naph) Bulawayo Province will hold their track and field inter schools competition on February 10.

The events will be held at various centres in the province’s five districts.  The competitions, which will run concurrently with physical competitions for infants will culminate in the selection  of a provincial team to represent the city at the national finals in Harare towards the end of March.

Naph Bulawayo chairperson Bongani Sibanda said the programme was well on course and revealed that some schools have already held their inter-house competitions.

According to Sibanda the inter-zonal competitions have been slated for February 24 with the provincial finals set for White City Stadium on March 9-10.

Bulawayo has five districts — Mzilikazi, Bulawayo Central, Reigate, Imbizo and Khami.  Mzilikazi District has the highest number of zones — six in total – followed by Reigate with five while the rest have three each.

After the provincial finals, a representative team will be selected for the nationals which will be held at the giant National Sports Stadium from March 23-24.

A national team will be chosen during the meet for the April  Confederation of School Sports Associations of Southern Africa (COSSASA) athletics competitions set for the same venue.

“Some schools have already held their inter-house competitions and this was made possible by the fact that as a province we did away with holding seasonal athletics competitions and chose to take advantage of Bulawayo Athletics Board organised competitions. That way our athletes are kept busy throughout,” said Sibanda.

He said the seasonal holding of competitions was the main reason for the province’s failure at national level.

“Previously we would just do athletics during first term and just forget about it until the following year but that is no longer the case.

“Now, it’s all year round with athletes competing in Bab or even the National Athletics Association of Zimbabwe (Naaz) organised competitions,” said Sibanda.

Bulawayo came eighth in athletics and second in physical education competitions at last year’s  national meet which was held at Torwood Stadium in Kwekwe.