MORE Team Zimbabwe athletes for the African Union Sports Council Region 5 Under-20 Youth Games which kick off in Bulawayo next Friday were expected to trickle into camp yesterday after finishing their public examinations.
SUKOLUHLE MTHETHWA SPORTS REPORTER
Some of the athletes broke camp to resit the rescheduled Zimsec Ordinary Level English Language and Mathematics papers that were leaked a few weeks ago.
Candidates resat for English Paper 1 on Monday with Paper 2 being written on Wednesday, Mathematics Paper 1 was written on Tuesday while Mathematics Paper 2 was written yesterday.
Games chef de mission administration Chiedza Mafunga yesterday spoke to Southern Eye Sport on Team Zimbabwe Peak Perfomance training camp programme.
“All the sporting disciplines are now in camp with the exception of swimming and tennis. The swimming team are having their own practice sessions in Bulawayo and Harare.
“They held the Matabeleland Swimming Gala and the Mashonaland Swimming Gala last week as part of the preparations.
“The swimming team should be joining the rest of the athletes on December 2.
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“As for tennis, Ronzai Saurombe, Valerio Bhunu and Mariga Taremeredzwa are our foreign-based players.
“They should be in the country by December 2. I think they will be better prepared because a player like Valerio has been taking part in an international tournament,” she said.
Mafunga said they were expecting more athletes by end of day today.
“By end of day today (yesterday) we expect more athletes to join camp today because some of them have been writing examinations. By November 2 Team Zimbabwe will be at the games village (Hillside Teachers’ College).
“What is happening now is that coaches are now working on the speed, agility and skills. This is the time for the athletes to acclimatise to the weather. Athletes are also getting familiar with each other which is good for Team Zimbabwe,” she said.
She urged the Bulawayo community and the nation to rally behind the team.
Team Zimbabwe has set a target of 40 medals in athletics, basketball, football, boxing, judo, tennis, netball and swimming.
ZITF, Large City Hall, Luveve, White City and Barbourfields Stadiums, Bulawayo Athletics Club and Bulawayo Swimming Pool are the games venues.
President Robert Mugabe is expected to officially open the games at Barbourfields Stadium on December 4.
