The Sunday News
Bruce Chimani Sports Correspondent
THE 12th edition of the National Youth Games roar into action on 16 August in Masvingo with much anticipation for the games to continue shining as a platform of sporting excellence for young Zimbabweans.In 2003, the Sports and Recreation Commission introduced the Games which were inaugurated and hosted by Bulawayo Province, in an endeavor to fulfill its mandate to facilitate for access to sport and recreation opportunities for all and also to set the foundation for the attainment of high performance sports participation to the Zone VI Games (now Region 5 Games), All-Africa Games and Summer Olympic Games. In addition, the games present the opportunity for participation to several regional, continental and international competitions organised by international federations.
This year’s edition, Leisure Sport has learnt, has been set as a stage for local athletes to prepare for the December Region 5 games that will be hosted in the country.
Although progress has been made in preparation for the Youth Games at loc level, SRC communications officer Tirivashe Nheweyembwa said provinces were struggling to raise the participation fees and meeting camping costs for their teams, an issue which is of concern.
“There seems to be challenges at provincial level where we understand that most provinces are struggling to raise the participation fees and meeting camping costs. This is indeed a sad reality in that we had made strides in respect of improving the quality of the Games like feeding the athletes and other necessary paraphernalia. The system is such that the provinces like any other team, caters for its preparations like meeting the camping costs and the organisers will then deal with the feeding of the teams during the course of the competition.
“If provinces are finding it hard the question that yearns for answers is whether we are going to be having full strength squads in Masvingo? It is for this reason that we are making this special appeal to the stakeholders to support their teams through the provincial teams,” said Nheweyembwa.
In previous years when the country had the Ministry of Education, Sports, Arts and Culture, provinces used to get some assistance through the schools system but now with the separation of the ministries, some seem to be struggling.
“It is in the best interest of the gains we have had from these Games that we are appealing to stakeholders in the provinces to assist provinces in all ways possible. Are we saying that these Games should cease? That is impossible. We kindly ask that we do it for the sake of the boy or girl from Muzarabani, Gutu, Mwenezi, Pandamatenda, Malipati and other such places so that he or she may realise her dream of becoming the next Kirsty Coventry. Yes, as a nation we are going through a patchy period but surely can we afford to reverse the gains that we have made with the Games? Athletes like Ngonidzashe Makusha, Gabriel Mvumvure, Angela Makaha, Vitalis Chikoko all came through these Games. Please let’s lend a hand in the project,” lamented Nheweyembwa.
The Zimbabwe National Youth Games have been used as a talent identification platform for athletes into the various national teams and this year’s games will see Team Zimbabwe featuring two teams in netball, basketball, football and athletics to prepare for the Region 5 Games. Nheweyembwa noted that athletes needed to be at their best as there would be talent identification and engrafting into Team Zimbabwe during the Games.
“Our coaches will have access to the athletes and we will be on the lookout for athletes who might have missed selection and they will get an opportunity to be engrafted in Team Zimbabwe. We will also be using scientific methods to measure their performance,” he added.
The National Sports Associations that are part of the Games schedule include Athletics Zimbabwe, Basketball Union of Zimbabwe, Handball Association of Zimbabwe, Tennis Zimbabwe, Zimbabwe Amateur Boxing Association, Zimbabwe Football Association, Zimbabwe Netball Association and the Zimbabwe Volleyball Association.
Some of the successes of the Games include how the Games have been used to lobby for the renovation and construction of sporting facilities like in Masvingo and Matabeleland South provinces. There also has been buy-in by various stakeholders and partners in the organisation and management of the Games.
The Zimbabwe National Youth Games have been able to advance sport for all as all the provinces are now undertaking qualifiers to select athletes who will then represent them at the Games. Owing to the Games, there has been high performance sport participation being achieved at an early stage, which then is being nurtured to peak performance while the athletes are in the prime phase of their sporting careers. Notably some of the athletes who have gone through the Games have hit some successes in the International scene both in College/University Sports Games.
