The Sunday News
Simba Dube Sports Reporter
TEAM Zimbabwe were crowned champions of this year’s edition of the Confederation of School Sports Associations of Southern Africa (Cossasa) Ball Games after securing the highest number of gold medals in all disciplines. Altogether, Team Zimbabwe had 13 medals which were eight gold, three silver and two bronze, while Botswana who were the runners-up had 11 medals. Zimbabwe finished on top in Under-13 football boys, Under-17 basketball boys and girls, tennis Under-17 boys and girls, Under-17 boys volleyball, netball Under-13 and Under-17. They were runners-up in Under-17 boys rugby, Under-13 football girls and volleyball girls Under-17.
The games which were held in Bulawayo from Thursday ended yesterday with more than 800 contestants drawn from five countries namely Namibia, Lesotho, Swaziland, Botswana as well as the host nation Zimbabwe.
In a Press conference held last Friday at White City Stadium, the Cossasa president Johnson Madhuku applauded the host nation pointing out that they had managed to live up to the standards of the competition
“We are happy for the host nation Zimbabwe, there are no problems faced as yet and our games have been running smoothly,” said Madhuku.
Running under the theme “Catch them young”, athletes competed in six sporting codes which were basketball, football, netball, volleyball, tennis and sevens rugby.
On the first day of the tournament in a rugby match played at Hartsfield Rugby Grounds, Team Zimbabwe walloped their Botswana opponents with a resounding 28-0 score line.
In basketball the Zimbabwe senior girls defeated Botswana 64-24 while the boys won 90-39 against Namibia.
In soccer the under-13 girls lost to Botswana 3-0 and managed to rise to the occasion in their second match as they won 2-0 against Namibia.
With eight gold medals, Team Zimbabwe had the highest number of gold medals followed by Botswana who had three.
Andrew Langa, the Minister of Sports, Arts and Culture who graced the closing ceremony said that such grassroots sporting activities play a vital role in sport development in countries, as he also commended the southern African governments for putting high value on sport.
“This is pleasing to note that these games are contributing to the overall development of sport in all the countries that are participating in them.
“Our efforts as governments to develop sport are indeed not in vain, rather this is a worthwhile investment. I wish to also commend the governments of Southern African countries for taking sport seriously,” said Langa.
Cossasa Ball Games are an annually held tournament with the age categories ranging from Under-13 to Under-17. The next edition of the Cossasa will be held in Botswana at a date yet to be announced.
