adminTadious Manyepo
Sports Reporter
ATHLETES who represented Zimbabwe at this year’s African Union Sports Council Region 5 Youth Games in Lilongwe, Malawi, say they have picked valuable lessons from the meet.
The fiesta ran between December 2 to December 11.
Team Zimbabwe, which had 203 competitors in 11 sport codes which saw 10 countries contesting, hauled 84 medals, including 12 gold, 25 silver and 47 bronze. Their cumulative total was the second best after South Africa although the country finished fourth based on the number of gold medals won.
There was space for Team Zimbabwe to write a memorable piece of history too after they dominated in tennis with all the medals on offer in this discipline going to Zimbabwean players.
This is the first time in the history of the competition that athletes from the same country have won all the medals on offer in the same sport code.
The athletes, most of whom are on sport scholarships at different institutions, were also blown away by the Government’s gesture to pay incentives for all of them.
The Government also rewarded all those who won medals.
And the youngsters say they have picked key lessons from the successful competition.
Linnete Zembe, who won gold in the 100m hurdles, said the AUSC Region 5 Games can be a platform to build confidence.
Before romping to victory in the track, the pint-sized 19-year-old athlete had missed the podium in long jump.
“I have participated in several local competitions and at time felt like I wasn’t making any progress.
“I was supposed to be part of Team Zimbabwe that competed in the AUSC Region 5 Games in Maseru, Lesotho, last year but couldn’t go due to some reasons,” said Zembe.
“I was low in confidence arriving in Malawi and I still feel with better confidence I should have clipped a podium finish in long jump.
“However, I grew in confidence after coming out fourth in long jump. I was preparing for the 100m hurdles and I was upbeat I would do well.
“I needed to be myself and I did just that in the hurdles. I was believing in myself and I won. I tell you if I had been given another chance in long jump, I would have snatched a medal as well after building my confidence.
“So these Games help us in getting a platform where you can grow in confidence. I tell you, in my next competition, the least thing I would be worried about is confidence.”
Tennis star Rufaro Magarira, who won the joint highest number of gold medals along with fellow tennis player Benedict Badza, said the Games are a spring which can propel one into international stardom.
“I am very happy I managed to win gold in all the categories I competed in. I had to put in the work right from preparations until I went into these courts at the Games,” said Magarira.
“One has to be disciplined and stay focused because the game needs a lot of concentration.
“It is a very good platform to learn. I made some mistakes during the games and I now know how to correct those flaws.
“The Games are also a huge platform one can launch their international career.”
National Under-20 netball team, the Young Gems, goal shooter Thandazile Ndhlovu believes more youngsters deserve to play on this platform.
Ndhlovu was in red-hot form, helping the Young Gems to a bronze medal after beating Malawi in the third-place tie before a partisan crowd at the Griffins Saenda.
“I feel this is the best platform young sports-persons can nurture and develop their skills in a highly-competitive environment,” she said.
“You don’t know where exactly you stand by concentrating on local events.
“These Games are a blessing and I feel every talented youngster should compete in these Games. I would like to salute the authorities for affording us time and space to be in these Games.”
Online Reporter