Youth Games teams go into camp

Sport
THE country’s provinces are preparing for the Zimbabwe National Youth Games to be hosted by Bulawayo from August 17-25, with teams expected this week.

THE country’s provinces have stepped up preparations for the Zimbabwe National Youth Games to be hosted by Bulawayo from August 17-25 with some of the teams expected to go into camp this week.

SUKOLUHLE MTHETHWA SPORTS REPORTER

Bulawayo is holding the games for the second time since their inauguration in 2003. Athletes are expected to take part in netball, handball, basketball, volleyball, football, tennis, boxing and athletics.

Sports and Recreation (SRC) co-ordinator for Bulawayo Province, Sam Dzvimbu, yesterday told Southern Eye that the athletes will be converging in the city this week.

“The Bulawayo Province is going into camp on Thursday at Eveline Girls’ High School. We are looking forward to the camp and also looking forward to hosting the games,” he said.

Mashonaland West Youth Games general manager Gabriel Mhuma also said they were getting ready for the games. “We are going into camp on Tuesday at Chinhoyi High School. We are expecting 400 athletes to come and then we will trim the squad down because we need to take a total of 284 athletes as well as officials. We were the top team in boys’ football last year, so we are hoping to do well and beat Bulawayo in their own backyard,” he said.

Midlands general manager Cephas Mutumhe said: “Chaplin High School is going to be the venue for our Youth Games camp from Thursday. We are just hoping that all the athletes we selected are going to pitch up for the camp. We are hoping to do very well in this year’s competition. Harare has dominated the games over the years, but we are expecting good performances from our athletes,” he said.

However, Matabeleland South general manager Reuben Mabhena said they went into camp at Jason Ziyaphapha Moyo High School yesterday.

“Our preparations for the Youth Games are going on smoothly. We started our camp today (yesterday) and the main reason is that since the athletes are on school holidays, their performances might be affected by lack of practice. So we decided to go into camp early so that they are not affected by the break,” he said.

Bulawayo dominated the 2012 Youth Games that were held in Bindura, getting the highest number of medals despite coming second to Harare.

Harare got 31 medals while Bulawayo amassed 38 medals with one gold short. Mashonaland Central came third. Masvingo was fourth while Mashonaland West was fifth.

The Midlands finished on sixth position. Mashonaland East followed on position seven. Matabeleland South was eighth while Manicaland followed on position nine, with Matabeleland North putting up another dismal performance, emerging last after coming out in the same position in 2011.