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Tadious Manyepo-Sports Reporter
GOVERNMENT have challenged athletes to fight for the flag when they participate in the African Union Sports Council Region 5 Games in Lilongwe, Malawi.
The meet runs from December 2 to December 11.
Team Zimbabwe is scheduled to leave for Malawi today to allow them to acclimatise with the hot conditions in Malawi.
Government yesterday held a huge send off for the 205 Under-20 athletes in Harare with Minister of Youth, Sport, Arts and Recreation, Kirsty Coventry, who was represented by SRC Commissioner Coleen de Jong, challenging the athletes to keep their eyes on the ball while being good ambassadors for the country.
“One of my Ministry’s key outputs is to improve sports performance at regional, continental and international levels. It is undoubted that improving sports performance hinges on a number of facets including facilities.
“I am happy to inform this gathering that the Ministry is on a drive to see to it that an enabling environment is created by ensuring that adequate and standard sporting infrastructure is availed,” she said.
“As we officially send-off Team Zimbabwe to the AUSC Region 5 Games, allow me to emphasize the seriousness of this national assignment which is anchored on the pillars of national pride, oneness, unhu/ubuntu, patriotism, and nation-building.
“These pillars demand us all to be physically, psychologically and technically prepared in order to raise the flag of Zimbabwe high during and afterwards”.
Over 2 000 participants drawn from 10 African countries are expected to participate in the 2022 edition of the Region 5 Youth Games. Zimbabwe will field athletes in 11 sporting disciplines namely Athletics, Basketball, Boxing, E-Sports, Gymnastics, Judo, Netball, Swimming, Taekwondo, Tennis and Volleyball.
Coventry hammered on the need for athletes to be prepared in all aspects of their different games.
Some sport codes including basketball will be on a double mission as they will use the meet as qualifiers for other international tournaments.
“I am reliably informed that some of the sport codes are using these Games as qualifiers for other regional and international tournaments. It is therefore important to ensure that as athletes you are well prepared and conditioned regardless of the circumstances we find ourselves in.
“I am aware that the coaches ensured that all the necessary preparations were done and nothing is left to chance.
“Allow me to underscore the fact that you are all our ambassadors and your conduct should be of the highest decorum with sensitive etiquette. We do not expect any form of indiscipline whether on the part of the athletes or the officials”.
Team Zimbabwe, which comprises 205 athletes and 78 officials, will travel in three batches today.
Chef de Mission Masimba Mutemaringa is already in Malawi and will receive the athletes.
The send-off yesterday was attended by Deputy Chef de Mission Simbarashe Gochera, Director of Sport and Recreation in the Ministry of Youth, Sport, Arts and Recreation Eugenia Chidhakwa, SRC Director General Sebastian Garikai, Director Benson Martin Dube and other high-ranking officials from the Ministry of Youth, Sport, Arts and Recreation as well as those from the SRC and parents of athletes.
Online Reporter