Chihuri challenges athletes

Southern African Region Police Chiefs Corporation Organisation Games trophy.

The seventh edition of the SARPCCO Games is slated for Lubumbashi, DRC, from August 15-30.
Commissioner Chihuri was addressing delegates during yesterday’ SARPCCO official handover of sponsorship and send-off ceremony at Morris Depot.
He paid tribute to the sponsors who donated towards the SARPCCO Games’ squad and promised them that the team would bring back the trophy.

The Police chief felt humbled by the response shown by the corporate world.
He said the gesture showed a fruitful relationship that exists between the companies and the police.
Chihuri highlighted that when Zimbabwe hosted the SARPCCO games in 2007, he felt it was an historic event for them, as the games were a huge success .

“I am happy to note that we are the defending champions of these games, as we lifted the trophy in 2009 in Malawi.
“After these donations, I urge other companies to follow suit and support the sports development programmes of the police force,” Chihuri said.
He believes the donations will certainly boost the morale of the athletes.

A total of 156 athletes will represent Zimbabwe in six disciplines – athletics, chess, darts, football, netball and volleyball men and women.
Chihuri said the six weeks that the team had been in camp helped them prepare technically and psychologically.
He said the squad needed to be disciplined on and off the field of play. Sponsors’ representative Brighton Mazarura, the Bakers Inn Brand Manager, promised more support for the SARPCCO Games

squad and other police force-related events.
Mazarura said their relationship with ZRP dates back a long way as they previously sponsored Black Mambas.
He said for them to generate more revenue, they needed to operate in a safer environment and could only do so with the assistance of the ZRP.

“We have self belief and confidence in the team that will represent Zimbabwe will defend the title,” Mazarura said.
Bakers Inn donated US$1 000 and pledged to give the team 1 000 loaves of bread when they return in September.

During the handover of donations some of the companies that donated were ZMDC, Zimplats, Mimosa Mining, CBZ Holdings and Marange Resources.