All set for Buddie varsity games

Science and Technology is hosting the games and they have spread the event to various venues — Hartsfield, Bulawayo Council for the disabled, Raylton, Bulawayo Athletics Club and Crescent Club as they do not have enough facilities to cater for all the disciplines.
The three-day event will end on Sunday and participants will compete in football, basketball, darts, table tennis, karate, cricket, hockey, netball, lawn tennis, chase and volleyball.
The games are expected to feature University of Zimbabwe, Midlands State University, Bindura University of Science Education, Africa University, Catholic University, Chinhoyi University of Technology, Lupane University, Women’s University in Africa, Harare Institute of Technology, Great Zimbabwe and Nust.
Zusa president, Liberty Maidza, said they were expecting stiff competition as they now have sponsors who have come on board to support the event.
“We expect Bulawayo to be a hive of activity this weekend. We expect the competition to be a step up considering that we have Econet, sponsoring us through their Buddie brand.
“The overall winner will get a prize. There is something to fight for and you find that when there is something to fight for the spirit is high. All universities are expected to take part in the games.
“Nust do not have enough facilities and they have looked for alternative venues to accommodate all the disciplines,” said Maidza.
Maidza said they have invited national associations and clubs to attend the games as it will be an opportunity for them to identify talented athletes.
“We are trying to bridge the gap between schools and clubs and we have invited them as well as the national associations to come and witness the event and not only that but to also identify talent,” said Maidza.
MSU are the defending champions but are going into the Games trailing UZ with one gold medal after they finished second in the track and field championships held in last month in Harare. In the previous years, Zusa used to hold track and field events together with the ball games but this year saw the association staging the events separately in an effort to give adequate time for the events.
The winners will get a trophy and US$3 000 while the runners-up will receive US$2 000 and the third-placed team will get US$1 000.
Fourth and fifth position will walk away with US$500 and US$250 respectively.