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Mvuzo Mbebe

Sikhumbuzo Moyo Senior Sports Reporter
AFRICAN Union Sports Council Region 5 athletes and officials who will be coming to Zimbabwe for the Under-20 Games will be put under Ebola surveillance for 21 days before they depart for Zimbabwe.

Ten countries from the Sadc Region with a total of 1,300 athletes, will be in Bulawayo for the Games that run from December 5 to 14 but with the Ebola virus raging havoc especially in West Africa there have been fears among locals that the Games might be an avenue for the spread of the deadly disease into Zimbabwe.

The disease has so far killed close to 5,000 people in Africa but no known sportsperson has succumbed to the deadly disease so far.

Speaking to local journalists soon after conducting the draw for the Games at a local hotel last Friday, Region 5 secretary-general and chairman of the Regional Organising Committee of the Games, Mvuzo Mbebe said the situation was under control and various associations have been advised on the action to be taken.

“We’ve advised associations to monitor their athletes and officials’ movements especially in the last 21 days before they come to Zimbabwe,” said Mbebe.

World football motherbody, Fifa has already issued a statement on steps and measures to be taken to prevent the spread of the disease.