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Tirivashe Nheweyembwa

Sikhumbuzo Moyo, Senior Sports Reporter
COMPANIES have been encouraged to adopt and sponsor individual sport codes of their choice ahead of and during the Zimbabwe National Youth Games in Matabeleland North Province beginning next week.

The Games, that will have 22 sport codes and be played over two weeks, will now spill over to Bulawayo as the hosting province lacks facilities for some competitions.  Bulawayo will host hockey, shooting, cricket and swimming.

“Corporates are at liberty to choose sporting disciplines of their choice and we stand ready to engage them. A well coordinated platform like this  will see us reaping the rewards in the near future.

“We cannot dream or aspire to win medals at any international sporting competitions when we don’t work together as a nation to develop our athletes.

Nations that have made an indelible mark on the sporting arena have invested heavily in their sportspersons.  It is our wish that every sector should contribute to sport development and this project is one such shining example which we can all use,” said Sport and Recreation Commission spokesperson Tirivashe Nheweyembwa.

As the countdown to the Games continues, a meeting of the competition directors was convened in Harare on Thursday at which sport-specific rules and appointment of technical officials was submitted.

“Cricket highlighted that they now need eight cricket fields in order for the competition to be done within the Games’ period.  Cycling will have three events, the  BMX,  road race and mountain bike while swimming expects team entries per event in order to plan for the competition schedule accordingly.

“Weightlifting is finalising on equipment and the competition will be in Victoria Falls.  Also of note is that the facilities, particularly those privately owned need to be secured now.

“Typical examples are for the Bulawayo Swimming Bath as the city council has renovations that it intends to do which if started now might affect the swimming competition,  while some of the facilities required for cricket are in private schools which need to be written to,” said Nheweyembwa.

Acting SRC director general Joseph Muchechetere said they will soon be dispatching their teams to the annex provinces to properly train the local organising committee there.

“The Games remain purely a Matabeleland North baby but because of other logistical challenges like accommodation we might move certain codes to Bulawayo but a majority of the Games are and will be in  Matabeleland North,” said Muchechetere.

Venues for ZNYG are as follows;

Bulawayo: Cycling, volleyball, handball, hockey, tennis, swimming

Fatima High /Hwange town: Football

Marist High School: Table tennis

Hwange: Basketball, boxing, darts, karate, pool, netball, athletics

Victoria Falls: Chess, golf, rugby, weightlifting

Bubi-Lupane Dam: Rowing — @skhumoyo2000