ZIMBABWE have stepped up their preparations for the African Union Sports Council Region 5 Under-20 Youth Games with 120 athletes reporting for camp ahead of the regional championships to be staged in Bulawayo from December 4 to 14.
THANDIWE MOYO SPORTS REPORTER
Team Zimbabwe chéf de mission, Sebastian Garikai, revealed this at a welcome dinner at the Bulawayo Polytechnic hotel school on Saturday night in honour of athletes who will contest in basketball, women’s football, athletics and netball at the youth games.
“Only a few of the sporting disciplines are here and the rest will be joining us during the course of the week,” he said.
“We brought the athletes here to get a feel of home advantage. The reason why only a few athletes are here is because of the leaking of the exam papers which are still to be rewritten.”
He said the men’s football team, which was meant to be present at the dinner, was scheduled to play as curtain raisers for the Chibuku Super Cup final between FC Platinum and Harare City at Mandava yesterday.
Judo athletes are expected on Wednesday with the swimming team’s arrival slated for November 26 while tennis players are expected in Bulawayo before the end of the month.
Team Zimbabwe has set themselves a target of 40 gold medals as they aim to beat neighbours South Africa who have dominated the competition for the past six years.
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“We do not want to put pressure on the players, but we figured that South Africa have been winning the competition with 38 gold medals,” said Garikai.
Bulawayo Provincial Affairs minister Eunice Sandi-Moyo called on the athletes to make use of home advantage. “We are expecting medals because to host is to win,” she said.
“The journey will not be easy and this calls for men and women of steel. It is humbling to note that some top athletes such as Ngonidzashe Makusha, Rachel Makoni and Ariel Sibanda all came through this competition and are now competing on the international scene.”
Heath Streak Academy chief executive officer Joseph Rego, who was speaking on behalf of the Indian ambassador to Zimbabwe, encouraged players to “grab all medals”.
Sport, Arts and Culture minister Andrew Langa said they had provided the finances needed by Team Zimbabwe for the camp.
“We know that Team Zimbabwe had requested $742 000 for them to camp,” he said.
“So far we have given them more than 60% of the amount. We will continue to give them what they require.
“(Reinhard) Fabisch the late national team coach used motivation for the team to play well. We will get 40 medals if we motivate the players.”
