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Sikhumbuzo Moyo Senior Sports Reporter
ZIMBABWE has submitted a list of 206 athletes for the sixth edition of the African Union Region Five Under-20 Games to be held in Bulawayo from December 4 to 14. Countries were given May 31 as the deadline for submission of the names and Team Zimbabwe will now go into a peak performance training camp from November 22 after most of its athletes are expected to have finished writing school examinations.

As part of preparations, the selected athletes will be an 11th province at this year’s Zimbabwe National Youth Games to be held in Masvingo in August and will play competitive matches with their provincial counterparts.

“The list was submitted to the local organising committee over the weekend. Every sport code had its own selection competitions while the African Youth Olympics in Botswana also came in handy and will be used as a barometer to set standards for our athletes,” said Team Zimbabwe spokesperson Tirivashe Nheweyembwa.

The list has 40 swimmers (boys and girls), 24 basketball players (boys and girls), 36 football players (boys and girls), 50 track and field athletes (boys and girls), 10 boxers and an equal number of judo athletes, 12 netball and four tennis players as well as 30 athletes who will compete in athletics for the visually impaired (boys and girls).

“The process is progressing smoothly but we need to up our resource mobilisation efforts so that our athletes are well catered for during camp,” said the spokesperson.

Team Zimbabwe is likely to camp in Bulawayo or within the vicinity of the city so that athletes acclimatise ahead of the bi-annual youth sporting extravaganza.

Venues have already been identified. Bulawayo Athletic Club will be used for tennis, White City will cater for athletics, soccer and netball, Bulawayo Municipal Swimming Pool, ZITF Halls for basketball, judo and boxing. Hillside Teachers’ College will be used as the games’ village and command centre.

Recently, the government awarded tenders to companies to start renovations on the various identified sites with work already underway at the teacher training institute. Members of the technical and medical teams have since undergone an induction workshop to snychronise their objectives.

The medical team, which is led by Patience Maramba, will comprise three doctors, two nurses, seven physiotherapists, two rehabilitation technicians and a sport nutritionist. Former Mighty Warriors midfielder Sithethelelo ‘Kwinji 15’ Sibanda will be one of the girls’ soccer team coaches with Langton Giwa and Daniel Kabanga while Debra Green is the team manager. Young Warriors manager Patrick Muteswa will be the boys’ soccer team manager with Jairos Tapera coming in as the head coach.

Team Zimbabwe technical team
Swimming: Girls’ manager (Tracey Doorman), Boys’ (Gareth Desomd), Girls’ coaches (Deborah Wetzlar, Cheitimu Phiri), Boys’ coaches (Masiadi Takaedza, Anneke Chan Jack)

Basketball: Girls’ Manager (Margret Jabungwe), Boys’ Manager (Erick Banda), Girls’ coaches (Sam Mutsvangwa, Mxolisi Ndlovu), Men coaches (Tawanda Chitsinde, Tapiwa Mungunyana)

Netball: Manager (Virginia Mutanda), Coaches (Ropafadzo Mutsauki, Simbarashe Mhlambo)

Football: Girls’ manager (Precious Tarakino), Boys’ Manager (Patrick Muteswa), Girls’ Coaches (Langton Giwa, Sithethelelo Sibanda, Daniel Kabanga), Boys’ Coaches (Jairosi Tapera, George Madira, Laban Kandi )

Athletics: Girls’ Manager (Precious Tarakino), Boys’ Manager (Benson Samu), Girls’ Coaches (Lisimathi Phakamile, Braid Bhunu, Silas Muringani), Boys’ Coaches (Njere Shumba, Adelaid Dube)
Athletics, visually impaired: Girls Manager (Chipo Chikwature), Boys’ manager (Kudzai Shava), Girls Coaches (Mildred Baye, Constance Munemo, Mapula Ndlovu), Boys’ Coaches (Washington Nyamukapa, Maxwell Madzure, Obert Mapako )

Judo: Manager (Smart Siyazimba), Coaches (Simba Mashayi, Mapula Ndlovu, Sydney Chibwaya)

Boxing: Manager (Petros Masiyambumbi), Coaches (Mpilisi Moyo, Steven Masiyambumbi)

Medical team: Ben Karongo, Dorothy Masawi (Doctors), Samson Chavhe, Ethel Ndondo (Nurses), Farai Muguwe, Sharon Mukumbuzi, Christyna Tambanemoto, Tapfuma Mudawarima, Olivia Gwaze, Christine Mutangadura, Dalubuhle Nyoni (Physiotherapists), Pauline Tshuma, Loveness Tembo (Rehab Technicians), Joe Bizure (Nutritionist)