Team Zimbabwe to be revealed tomorrow

Sport
ATHLETES to represent the country during the Africa Union Sports Council Region V Under-20 Youth Games to be held in the city from December 5 to 14 will be revealed tomorrow, deputy chéf de mission administration of the games Tirivashe Nheweyembwa said yesterday.

ATHLETES to represent the country during the Africa Union Sports Council Region V Under-20 Youth Games to be held in the city from December 5 to 14 will be revealed tomorrow, deputy chéf de mission administration of the games Tirivashe Nheweyembwa said yesterday.Logo-Youth-Games SUKOLUHLE MTHETHWA SPORTS REPORTER

Zimbabwe will host the biennial competition that will attract Angola, Botswana, Lesotho, Namibia, Malawi, Mozambique, South Africa, Seychelles, Swaziland and Zambia.

“We are going to release the names of athletes who will represent the country in the Region V games on Wednesday (tomorrow),” he said.

“We will have a press briefing in Harare. We will discuss how the team was selected and preparations that are being put in place for the games.

“There will also be a discussion on the challenges we have faced and any other details.”

Team Zimbabwe consists of 290 athletes and officials although only 120 athletes will start camp in Bulawayo.

“Team Zimbabwe is going to Bulawayo for the final camp at Bulawayo Polytechnic College on Friday,” he said.

“We are going to have 120 athletes for now as the others are writing examinations. Basketball is the most affected sporting discipline because of the examinations. In the athletics teams we are going to have 27 athletes for now although they are 50. Others will join camp later.”

The countries will battle it out in athletics, basketball, boxing, football, judo, netball, tennis and swimming.

Nheweyembwa appealed to the corporate world to assist the team.

“We received funding from the government last week to the tune of $200 000 and we expect to receive more in the coming weeks,” he said.

“We are still appealing to the corporate world to assist us. Their deafening silence is worrying us.”

Meanwhile, the Youth Games torch aimed at raising awareness will be taken to Pelandaba Stadium in Gwanda tomorrow.