Mat’land North holds track and field meet

Sikhumbuzo Moyo Senior Sports Reporter
MATABELELAND North will hold their provincials of the Nestle Zimbabwe sponsored National Association of Primary School Heads (Naph) provincial track and field athletics competitions at Loziba Primary School in Bubi district tomorrow and Thursday.

The rest of the provinces, including Bulawayo and Matabeleland South will get to the field on Thursday and Friday as the provinces round up their preparations for the nationals, set for Trojan Mine in Bindura.

Matabeleland North (Naph) boss Charles Ndiweni said vetting would be done this afternoon starting from 3PM.

“Teams are expected tomorrow (today) afternoon and soon after checking in, we will go straight into vetting so that we have an early start on Wednesday,” said Ndiweni.

All the seven districts, including defending champions, Binga have confirmed their participation.

Bulawayo Naph chairman, Njabulo Bango said they were excited and ready for the competition that will be held at White City Stadium but expressed his disappointment at their failure to secure state of the art equipment which was used during the African Union Sports Council Region 5 Under-20 Games.

He said the authorities said the equipment could not be released because of an ongoing audit.

“We’re ready as a province and our programme will start on Thursday with Physical Education for the Under-11, field events and long distances. On Friday we will have sprints and relays,” said Bango.

He said emphasis will be on medal hopefuls not the final position of an athlete.

“Coming first will really not be a ticket to Bindura because as a province we want to take athletes who are medal hopefuls. A very competent team of selectors is already in place and they will take the athletes through a high performance training schedule as we prepare for the nationals,” said Bango.

Bulawayo Mayor, Martin Moyo, is expected to be the guest of honour at White City Stadium .

Matabeleland South districts will be at Pelandaba Stadium and chairman Elton Sinyosi said it was all systems go.

“Vetting will be done from 2PM on Wednesday,” said Sinyosi.