adminSikhumbuzo Moyo, Senior Sports Reporter
THE Matabeleland North National Association of Primary Heads (Naph) provincial ball games team troops into camp at Emakhandeni Primary School in Bulawayo this morning in preparation for the national inter provincial finals that will be held in Masvingo. The national provincials will run from July 23 to 25 and will see provinces competing in four disciplines – soccer, basketball, volleyball and netball.
“We have already identified our teams and due to our geographical set up in Matabeleland North, we shall be camping at Emakhandeni Primary School in Bulawayo as from Saturday (today) until departure early next week,” said Naph Matabeleland North chairperson Charles Ndiweni.
He said his province would carry a total of 109 athletes and was hopeful that this time around, the province would avoid the bridesmaid tag, a tag that has been with them for a long time.
“I believe we have prepared well and I remain confident that Matabeleland North will rise from their usual position 10 (last). Everyone is beginning to appreciate the need for us to do well in these national competitions,” said Ndiweni.
Last year in the Midlands city of Kwekwe, the province’s best position was in soccer where it came eighth but Ndiweni believes those dark days are over for the province.
Selected players will be drafted into Team Zimbabwe that will travel to Zambia for the Confederation of Schools Sport Association of Southern Africa (Cossasa).
Meanwhile, the Bulawayo provincial team has been in intensive training since Tuesday last week.
Naph chairperson Njabulo Bango said the team is training everyday for two hours in the afternoon.
“They will only sleep over on Monday ahead of departure the following day,” said Bango.
They have a 78 member team.
Online Reporter