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Ricky Zililo Sports Reporter
TRAINING of officiating personnel for the African Union Sports Council Region 5 Under-20 Youth Games has started, the local organising committee chief executive officer, Elkanah Dube has said. Dube was speaking at the sidelines of a tour of facilities to be used for next month’s sporting extravaganza by the Chief Secretary in the Office of the President and Cabinet Misheck Sibanda, who was accompanied by five permanent secretaries, George Charamba (Media, Information and Broadcasting Services), George Mlilo ( Local Government, Public Works and National Housing), Thokozile Chitepo (Sport, Arts and Culture) Patson Mbiriri (Energy and Power Development) and Munacho Munodawafa (Transport and Infrastructural Development).

Eleven countries — Angola, Botswana, Lesotho, Namibia, Malawi, Mozambique, South Africa, Seychelles, Swaziland, Zambia and the host nation Zimbabwe will compete in eight disciplines, athletics, basketball, boxing, football, judo, netball, swimming and tennis.

“Due to the fact that there is still work being done at almost all the venues to be used for the Games, we were unable to hold real trial runs. However, we always have a contingency plan that is why the technical sub-committee last week started training personnel at different centres around Bulawayo so that they are familiar with what is expected of them,” said Dube.

The LOC head of secretariat said athletics officials had their training at Northlea High School last weekend while the swimming officials were expected to do theirs last night at a Hillside Teachers’ College,” Dube said.

The sixth edition of the regional sports festival which will start from December 5 to 14 is running under the theme “Reaching for Greatness” and will leave Bulawayo with facilities capable of playing host to international events.

Renovations have been done at White City Stadium which will be home to athletics and netball, Bulawayo Athletics Club (tennis), City Pool (swimming), Luveve and Barbourfields stadia (football) as well as the Games’ Village at Hillside Teachers’ College.

Boxing will be held at the City Hall with judo and basketball set for the ZITF.