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Mzingaye Sibanda Sports Reporter
ATHLETES representing the Bulawayo Metropolitan Province Paralympic team are expected to leave the city today to take part in the national championships to be held in Marondera.The competition starts tomorrow.
Provincial education director Dan Moyo, Sport and Recreation Commission co-ordinator Sam Dzvimbu and some representatives of the sponsors held a send-off ceremony at Eveline Girls High School yesterda afternoon.
In a speech read on behalf of Minister of State for Provincial Affairs, Bulawayo Metropolitan Province, Eunice Moyo,athletes were encouraged to use the opportunity as a stepping stone for opportunities that might lie ahead.
“You are actually embarking on a very important ambassadorial role on behalf of our beautiful province. Go and play well and behave yourselves out there, this is the beginning of many good things and opportunities ahead of you,” Moyo said.
These sentiments were echoed by Dan Moyo who said the athletes should also use the Games to be selected for the Region Five Youth Games to be held in the city later this year.
“This is a chance for you to be selected and be among those who will represent the country in the Youth Games which will be held here in Bulawayo and even to go to Brazil,” said Moyo.
Coach Juma Phiri said the team is in high spirits and they are positive to bring the ultimate prize back home.
“We have a strong contigent and we are ready to do the city proud, our aim is collect more medals in athletics because those will be individual medals, but also the tennis team is good as well,” said Phiri.
Sherperd Banda, Gino Vundla and Rangaria Chiwara have scooped gold medals for the past six years in wheelchair tennis.
A total of 105 athletes are travelling. The wheelchair basketball team was dropped after other provinces failed to raise teams.
Kershalmar Dairies, DG Patel, Wilsgrove, Zimta Bulawayo Province, Bulawayo Sports Shop and Southern Petroleum all sponsored the team in their preparations for Marondera.
Zimta donated 185 T-shirts while Bulawayo Sports Shop gave athletes 105 branded caps.
Online Reporter