The Sunday News
Sports Reporter
AS the host nation of this year’s edition of the Confederation of School Sports Associations of Southern Africa (Cossasa) ball games, Team Zimbabwe has sets its targets on winning the title. The games will run from Wednesday to Sunday in Bulawayo and foreign teams are expected in the country today. For the past eight days, Team Zimbabwe has been in camp at Northlea High School in preparation of the games.
Zimbabwean athletes will rub shoulders with contestants from five countries namely Botswana, Namibia, Lesotho, Swaziland and Zambia.
Arthur Maphosa, vice-president of National Association of Secondary Heads said as hosts their main focus was to come out tops in the four-day-event, adding that there is a significant improvement in the team’s standard of play.
“As hosts we already have an advantage, so better performance is all that we expect from the athletes. We are targeting the gold medals in all disciplines and I think the level of performance from our side will be improved,” said Maphosa.
Contestants will compete in six disciplines which are basketball, football, netball, volleyball, tennis and rugby.
The competitions will use the refurbished African Union Sports Council Region 5 facilities such as White City Stadium for netball and football finals, tennis will be staged at Bulawayo Athletic Club and volleyball games will be staged at Milton High School. Hartsfield Rugby Ground will be used for sevens rugby.
In the previous edition of the games which were held in Zambia, the country’s Under-14 boys scooped gold after defeating the hosts 3-1 in the soccer discipline and another gold medal was from basketball. However, Zimbabwe finished second to Botswana which had managed to win more gold medals.
Cossasa ball games are an annually held tournament with the age categories ranging from Under-13 to Under-17.
Team Zimbabwe
Football Boys
F Fuzane (Mat South), E Mateswe (Midlands), O Magejo (Harare), E Kalombo (Manicaland), W Muwuyu (Mash West), M Soko (Harare), L Sikanda (Manicaland), B Zvakare (Manicaland), T Nyoni (Bulawayo), O Bhebhe (Bulawayo), P Vhutuza (Manicaland), I Makore (Harare), T Chitate (Masvingo), M Mabona (Mash Central), J Chirume (Midlands), J Bonomali (Mash West), A Mhlaba (Mash West).
Football Girls
G Mkwhebu (Bulawayo), B Mukara (Bulawayo), E Tonhoma (Bulawayo), N Phiri (Bulawayo), N Mthunzi (Bulawayo), M Chiduku (Bulawayo), P Zvawanda (Harare), R Kunze (Harare), P Mutandahuruva (Harare), C Mufuka (Harare), B Muvhaku (Masvingo), J James (Mash Central), M Chikore (Manicaland), S Ncube (Mat South), V Ngwenya (Mat North), N Chiraura (Midlands), N Moyo (Midlands), S Masocha (Midlands).
Rugby
C Phiri (Mat South), A Chitsenga (Manicaland), L Sengeledo (Harare), L Sengai (Manicaland), T Chininga (Mash Central), T Musingwini (Harare), J Karambo (Masvingo), M Mpofu (Bulawayo), L Sibanda (Mash Central), S Kanyangarara (Harare), L Nazare (Manicaland), H Dube (Mat North).
Tennis
A Kwirirai (Bulawayo), H Dhansa (Manicaland), C Machisa (Harare), C Ruvire (Midlands), V Nhengu (Harare), E Sibanda (Bulawayo).
Netball
T Kureya (Harare), L Pasuro (Harare), P Gabriel (Mash East), S Kuriremu (Midlands), O Simbini (Maniclaland), T Ndlovu (Manicaland), N Muzanenhamo (Bulawayo), J Mbano (Bulawayo), B Mandlazi (Manicaland), N Ndlovu (Bulawayo), G Mathuthu (Mat South), V Hlahla (Manicaland).
Volleyball Boys
K V Mugauri (Harare), K Murombo (Harare), P Tagarira (Mash Central), N Mwandiyambirai (Mutare), T Nyakotyo (Mash West), M Huseni (Mat North), K Machokoto (Mash East), R Mutinofurazo (Mash Central), H Moyo (Bulawayo), T Marechera (Bulawayo), K Gandare (Mash Central), H Sibanda (Mat North), E Mavhura (Mash Central), B Ndlovu (Bulawayo).
Volleyball Girls
R Maronga (Harare), J dube (Bulawayo), A Tawonei (Harare), L Daara (Mash East), B Mashayabasa (Midlands), R Kamanga (Mash Central), K Mupawaenda (Mash East), J Manase (Manicaland), R Mukoki (Manicaland), V Razau (Mash Central), N Makuyaya (Manicaland).
