Region 5 LOC still to be dissolved

Sport
THE African Union Sports Council Region 5 Under-20 Youth Games local organising committee (LOC) is still to be dissolved with indications that it will run up to early June.

THE African Union Sports Council Region 5 Under-20 Youth Games local organising committee (LOC) is still to be dissolved with indications that it will run up to early June.

THANDIWE MOYO SPORTS CORRESPONDENT

The committee which comprises chairperson Khonzani Ncube, Elkana Dube, Kennedy Ndebele and Dave Simba, among others, was responsible for the running of the games from December 4 to 15 in Bulawayo.

Zimbabwe came second and according to both the LOC and regional organising committee (ROC), the Youth Games were held successfully.

The LOC chief executive Dube said they were still compiling reports on the Youth Games which would be submitted to the ROC led by Region 5 secretary-general Mvuso Mbebe.

“The games were played and now what is left for us is to compile reports on what transpired, not only on the field, but in all aspects during the games,” he said.

“The local committee is winding down after which the reports will be handed over to ROC. By June we would have completed everything and that is when the committee will be dissolved.”

Dube confirmed that Mbebe and his team should be coming to Bulawayo sometime next month for the preliminary report on the Youth Games, whose next edition will be hosted by Angola.

“Mbebe will be presented with the executive summary which will cover everything in the report,” he said.

The former Hillside Teachers’ College principal said LOC had to do some “cleansing” of the city.

“At some point we have to cleanse the environment,” he said.

“Some of the banners will be taken down and in some places where we feel that they should be retained we will talk to custodians of venues to keep them there for historical purposes.”

Bulawayo hosted Angola, Botswana, Zambia, Malawi, South Africa, Lesotho, Swaziland, Namibia and Mozambique.

South Africa emerged overall winners with the greatest gold medal haul.

Teams took part in athletics and netball at White City Stadium, boxing at the Large City Hall, football at Luveve and Barbourfields stadiums, tennis at Bulawayo Athletics Club, swimming at Bulawayo Swimming Pool and judo and basketball both at the Zimbabwe International Trade Fair.

Venues were spruced up for the competition with White City Stadium getting the greatest overhaul as a new tartan track, VIP area and netball pitches were constructed.