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Tabetha Kanengoni-Malinga

Ellina Mhlanga, Harare Bureau
VICE President Phelekezela Mphoko yesterday said its high time the country invested in science and research in sport to attain success.

The Vice President made the call in a speech read on his behalf by Minister of State in his office, Tabetha Kanengoni-Malinga at Team Zimbabwe’s send-off for the African Union Sports Council Region Five Under-20 Youth Games,

The Games are running from December 9 to 18 in Luanda, Angola.

“The application of science in sport is now an obligation and, as such, we have to measure up if we are to impact on the international sporting arena. This calls for us, in government to consider deploying a significant chunk of resources in the area of science and research in sports because it is crucial to our success at any level.

“This initiative also needs to be supported by requisite infrastructure. Identification of athletes from tender ages should be scientific if we are to have competitive edge over our competitors. Gone are the days when athletes were identified through hit and miss methods.

“Let me take this opportunity to encourage all our athletes to desist from doping and learn to practice clean sport,” said Mphoko.

Mphoko also stressed the importance of development of coaches for better performance by the athletes.

“Even though we have achieved some degree of success in these Games, I would like to take this opportunity to implore the Ministry of Sport and Recreation, together with all the sport stakeholders to double their efforts in facilitating the training and development of podium coaches.

“The level of our coaches determines the level of athletes’ performance at international sport competitions. This implies that we have to invest more in training and development as enunciated in our National Sport and Recreation Policy (NSRP) which government adopted in August,” said Mphoko.

The Vice President acknowledged the government and CBZ for their support to Team Zimbabwe and encouraged other corporates to also support sporting programmes.

The Games will see athletes from 10 countries taking part in athletics, athletics for people with visual impairment, basketball, boxing, football, gymnastics, judo, netball, swimming and tennis.

Zimbabwe has always played second fiddle to South Africa, who have dominated the Games since their inception.

And Minister of Sport and Recreation, Makhosini Hlongwane yesterday challenged the team to go for the top spot in Angola.

“It is not enough to maintain the position, we need to go beyond just maintaining our silver, we need to go for the gold.

“And therefore Angola must be different, every athlete, every coach, every member of the technical team in whichever code you are the challenge you is to make sure that your team will outdo South Africa.

Zimbabwe hosted the Games in 2014 and came second behind South Africa and it’s not going to an easy task in Angola.

Besides South Africa, Zimbabwe are likely to face a tough challenge also from the hosts, Angola, who finished third in Bulawayo.

The team was scheduled to leave for Angola this morning while chef de mission Chiedza Mafunga is already in Angola.