adminPeter Phiri Sports Correspondent
ALL is set for the 15th edition of the Sanzukwi Area Development Programme (ADP) Ball Games to be held at Khalanyoni High School in Mangwe district tomorrow. Publicity secretary of the games Mfakazi Maphosa said everything was on course and all the schools had confirmed their participation. The games are sponsored to the tune of $3 000 with World Vision contributing $2 000 with the remainder coming from schools.
Management has set aside ten thousand rand for feeding guests, officials and players.
‘‘Everything is in place and all the schools have confirmed their participation at this year’s edition of the games. We are just waiting for the big day on Friday and our stakeholders are happy with the preparations. The ADP Ball Games strive to develop sporting talent in Matabeleland South,’’ said Maphosa.
Three secondary schools, hosts Khalanyoni, Bulu and Sanzukwi will lock horns in netball, volleyball and football for both boys and girls.
At primary school level, Sanzukwi, Hobodo, Hlanganani and Makubu will battle for honours.
Defending champions at primary school level in netball are Mayobodo while Hlanganani are the title holders in volleyball and Makubu are the soccer champions.
Sanzukwi High School’s boys and girls are the defending champions in football while Khalanyoni are the title holders in both volleyball and netball.
‘‘Our players dominate National Association of Primary Heads (Naph) and National Association of Secondary Schools Heads (Nash) games because we develop them at a tender age. The policy is to catch them while they are still young. The talent at these games is amazing. We are trying our level best as a district to produce the next best thing in Zimbabwean sport. Who knows maybe the next Peter Ndlovu will come from these games and set alight football stadia in the country,’’ said Maphosa.
According to Maphosa the standards in all sporting disciplines are high since they have qualified coaches.
‘‘Our standards are very high because our coaches are sent for coaching courses by World Vision whom we have a good working relationship with.
At one time there was a boy called Thandolwenkosi Dube who came through these games and went for trials at Highlanders Football Club.
Unfortunately he had to go to South Africa in search of greener pastures,’’ he said.
Sanzukwi Area Development Games started in 1999 and their objective is to develop sporting talent.
Fixtures for Primary schools
Football final: Sanzukwi v Hobodo (boys), Hlanganani v Makubu (girls)
Netball final: Sanzukwi v Hobodo
Volleyball final: Hlanganani v Makubu
Fixtures for Secondary schools
Football final: Bulu v Khalanyoni (boys), Sanzukwi v Khalanyoni (girls)
Volleyball final: Sanzukwi v Khalanyoni
Netaball final: Bulu v Khalanyoni.
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