adminKabamba, attracted 65 participants from Zimbabwe’s 10 provinces.
The course was hosted by the Zimbabwe Handball Federation and was run under the auspices of the International Handball Federation and the African Handball Confederation.
ZHF president Amon Madzvamuse told the participants at the end of the four-day course at Girls High School in Harare on Saturday that some of them will officiate at this year’s National Youth Games in Bindura.
Madzvamuse said they would like to see these participants putting into practice what they learnt from Kabamba during the Level One referees’ course at this year’s National Youth Games.
The ZHF boss said he has already asked their vice-president Simbiso Mupepereki, who doubles up as the chairman of the Handball National Technical Committee (Hantec), to pick some of the participants, who took part in the referees’ course, for the National Youth Games.
“I’ve already asked the Hantec chairman Mupepereki to identify some of the participants, who took part in this Level One referees’ course, and make sure that they go and officiate at this year’s National Youth Games in Bindura in August.
“What we want to see is these participants putting into practice what they learnt during this Level One referees’ course and this will, among other things, help them in improving their officiating skills.
“This will also see some improved officiating in handball matches during this year’s National Youth Games and I hope this will also see us witnessing some exciting matches at this event because handball games in the past National Youth Games were marred by some poor officiating,” Madzvamuse said.
Most people who took part in last week’s Level One referees’ course were schoolteachers ZHF would like to see involved in their junior development programme.
Madzvamuse said having schoolteachers as qualified handball officials would help his federation to develop the sport at grassroots level, especially at primary and secondary school level.
“We are leaving no stone unturned in our efforts to popularise the sport at junior level and I would like to see us having or hosting our own Schools Handball Rugby Festival like the popular Cottco Schools Rugby Festival which is held annually at Prince Edward School in Harare.
“I’ve no doubt that this will see us attracting more sponsors who will come on board and join one of our major sponsors, Innscor, in helping us to develop the sport in this country,” Madzvamuse said.
Meanwhile, the curtain came down on the National Youth Games awareness campaign which was held in Bindura over the weekend with organising committee describing the campaign as a success after receiving a positive response from the community.
The campaign saw more than 1 00 individuals marching in the streets of Bindura in a bid to raise full awareness for the Youth Games to be held in August.
It was a day of many activities for the community as it was also a culture week for the National Arts Council of Zimbabwe.
The Youth Games campaign was welcomed by a massive crowd with a number of artistes singing and performing some dances at Bindura University.
Some of the areas where the awareness was done include Chipadze stadium, Bindura municipality, Mt Dawn road, T M Supermarket and Bindura main street.
The 10th edition of the National Youth Games are scheduled for August 4-8 in Bindura.
The Games’ provincial organising committee chief executive officer, Stan Kasukuwere, said the awareness campaign proved a great success as they received a positive response from the community.
“We are very happy with the response during our awareness campaign; the community cannot wait for the Youth Games to start.
“We have fulfilled what we aimed at, raising awareness and explaining to people about the games to give them more knowledge about them.
“Now the community knows what they expect from the games, our timing was great as it collided with a culture week,” said Kasukuwere.
He also said that they received a number of pledges from the business community of Bindura.
“We have received pledges from the business community amounting to US$700 000 and we are looking forward to it so that our games can run smoothly.
“Some farmers in Bindura gave us 25 beasts after our campaign although we need 20 more because we have budgeted for 45 and more.
“Our campaign has been a good start and hopefully the June 9 extravaga- nza show will also contribute to the games.
“Telecel Zimbabwe have been so helpful and have provided some kits and we just hope that some other companies can emulated them and assist us,” said Kasukuwere.
Online Reporter