Schools to wait longer for White City Stadium

Sport
SCHOOLS will have to wait a bit longer to use newly-refurbished White City Stadium when athletics competitions begin in a couple of weeks as the African Union Sports Council (AUSC) Region 5 Under-20 Youth Games local organising committee is still to hand over the facility to the Bulawayo City Council.

SCHOOLS will have to wait a bit longer to use newly-refurbished White City Stadium when athletics competitions begin in a couple of weeks as the African Union Sports Council (AUSC) Region 5 Under-20 Youth Games local organising committee is still to hand over the facility to the Bulawayo City Council.

MAMELO NKOMO SPORTS CORRESPONDENT

White City Stadium was refurbished in time for AUSC Region 5 Under-20 Youth Games in Bulawayo last December.

A tartan track, state-of-the-art electronic timing devices, a VIP area and a giant monitor were installed in revamping of the stadium which had become an eye-sore.

Provincial National Association of Secodary Heads (Nash) head-in-charge of athletics, Peter Gambiza, said schools were itching to make use of the new stadium although a handover of the stadium was still to be conducted by the government.

During the AUSC Region 5 Youth Games, the Bulawayo City Council handed White City, Luveve and Barbourfields stadia to the government for the duration of the games.

The LOC is still to hand back the stadia and other venues to their custodians.

“We have been to the city council, but all was in vain,” Gambiza said.

“We were told that the council was waiting for the government to hand over White City Stadium back to them since during the Under-20 Youth Games the stadium was surrendered to the government.”

He said this could delay the school competitions as they usually hold their championships at White City Stadium with the provincial competitions being held at the National University of Science and Technology (Nust).

Nust athletics ground was the only venue in Bulawayo with a tartan track, but since the refurbishment of White City, athletics now has options.

Meanwhile, Nash athletics begin today with most schools conducting their inter-house championships in a bid to produce athletes who will compete in the inter-schools competitions in a couple of weeks.

Ihlathi High School athletes get off the blocks this morning with long-distance events —10 000m, 5 000m and 3 000m — at the school with other track and field events scheduled for tomorrow.

Northlea High School will host their events next week Thursday and Friday.

Gambiza said they were ready for the competitions lined up this year.

“Everything is on track,” he said.

“With regards inter-house competitions, schools do not report to us, but l am aware that most schools will conduct their competitions this week and next week.”

The 2015 provincial athletics calendar was released last year by Nash with some activities at district level slated for Febraury16 to 20 .