Langa happy with stadia preps

Ngqwele Dube Sports Correspondent
SPORTS, Arts and Culture Minister Andrew Langa is confident that the Africa Union Sports Council Region Five Under-20 Youth Games venues will be ready by 30 September when they are expected to be handed over to the Regional Organising Committee. Speaking on Friday afternoon after a tour of the sporting facilities undergoing renovations, Langa said he received assurances from the contractors that the improvements to the infrastructure would have been completed by the end of the month.

Langa with members of the Local Organising Committee that included chairperson, Khonzani Ncube and chief executive officer Elkana Dube toured White City Stadium, Luveve Stadium, Barbourfields Stadium, City Swimming Pool, Hillside Teachers College, which will be used as the Games Village and Bulawayo Athletic Club.

“After touring the venues, I am glad to say that come 30 September, we will be able to handover the facilities to the ROC as per their deadline. I am happy with the progress that is being made by the contractors at all the sites. I am most pleased by efforts being made by the LOC chairperson and her team in ensuring that progress is made at all stages. They have shown clear commitment and positive engagement throughout the whole process,” said Langa.

The Sports Minister, said the tour was in preparation for the visit by the inter-ministerial committee on the Games headed by Senior Minister in the President’s Office, Simon Khaya Moyo. The committee make its own assessment this week ahead of the lighting of the Games torch by President Mugabe on 19 September.

Changes being made at Barbourfields include the addition of two more dressing rooms and extension of the current ones while the VIP section will see 120 bucket sits erected and four television sets placed at strategic points. The scoreboard will be moved to the Soweto stand from Mpankweni. A drainage system is being redone to ensure the turf does not get water logged.

The city’s biggest stadium, by capacity, will play host to the opening and closing ceremonies.
New floodlights are being erected at Luveve Stadium and a new Zesa sub-station is being installed where a double storey VIP section and media box are also being built. New dressing rooms are also under construction and a training pitch being created just outside the main turf. Stands are only being spruced up.

White City Stadium will have a new VIP section, once renovations are done, and the cycling track is being demolished so that the athletics track has eight lanes as per international standards and a tartan track would replace the current cinder ash one that has been removed.
A new training pool at the City Pool is being constructed while the main swimming pool is undergoing a facelift.

Langa said the renovated venues will leave a sporting legacy for the city as the facilities would be used beyond the Games.
He said he was happy with the support they were getting from the Bulawayo City Council as they worked towards meeting the 30 September deadline.
“I would like to applaud the City Fathers for the support they have been giving to us as we prepare for the Games. We believe the partnership will work beyond the Games as we seek to ensure the venues do not become white elephants but are continually used as we seek out young talent and sporting excellence among our sports people,” said Langa.

Langa confirmed Dube had been made the substantive chief executive officer having been given the post on an acting capacity following the axing of Henry Manzungu early last month.

Dube said he would be spearheading the implementation of the vision to ensure the Games leave a legacy not only for Bulawayo but the whole of Zimbabwe and all the participating countries.

“We are working on the objectives of the Games and are setting weekly targets that have to be achieved to ensure we are on course towards the successful hosting of the Games. We will exercise prudence and ensure we have all the critical materials first while working on improving areas relating to procurement and finance,” he said.

Zimbabwe will play host to 14 other countries that would take part in the sixth edition of the Youth Games along with the hosts from 4 to 14 December.
The Region Five Games were formerly known as Zone Six Youth Games and involve countries in the Sadc region although four other countries have been invited to compete at the sporting showcase.