adminSikhumbuzo Moyo Senior Sports Reporter
SQUABBLING among key officials in Matabeleland North has seen the province almost failing to send a team to the 12th edition of the Zimbabwe National Youth Games that roar into life next week in Masvingo.
Well placed sources told this publication that education officials in the province had a heated quarrel with Sports and Recreation Commission officials over the release of pupils from schools into provincial teams.
“The officials from education refused to instruct schools to release their pupils arguing that sports was now a stand alone ministry as they now fall under the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education which really was being unreasonable,” said a source.
As a result the province will now be represented in three sports codes only, netball, boxing and athletics. The Games technical guide says each province is expected to send at least 202 athletes. Contacted for comment, the SRC provincial coordinator, Newman Masuku confirmed that his province would be sending a very depleted provincial representative side to Masvingo due “to very limited resources”.
“We are sending our netball, boxing and about eight long distance runners from Binga and Tsholotsho. Naturally we would have wanted to send a full strength list but our province is reeling under very serious resource problems,” said Masuku.
The province has always been well represented in the youth games since their inception in 2003, with the 2004 Games held in Masvingo being their best after they hauled a number of medals. Since then, their performance has been constant, coming last and in Bulawayo last year, they only managed a single gold medal.
Matabeleland North province has always suffered from lack of support from key provincial leaders and that has seen the province being perennial punch bags in national competitions. They remain the only province still using the same kit bought way back in 2004 through the influence of then governor, Obert Mpofu.
Meanwhile, the Bulawayo provincial youth games team trooped into camp on Monday and will remain in camp until their departure on Saturday.
They have 202 athletes in camp and the provincial coordinator, Sam Dzvimbu said they were ready to defend their title.
“Morale is high and Team Bulawayo is ready to defend our title,” said Dzvimbu. Bulawayo got 16 gold, 12 silver and an equal number of bronze medals to finally dislodge Harare.
Dzvimbu said training is intense with every member of the team showing enthusiasm to raise the Bulawayo flag sky high in Masvingo.
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