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Sikhumbuzo Moyo Senior Sports Reporter
VICE President, Joice Mujuru, is set to visit Bulawayo this week, to tour venues that will be used during the African Union Region Five Under-20 Games, ahead of the draw on Friday.
VP Mujuru is also expected to be the guest of honour at the draw, which is set to be beamed live on national television, as the countdown to the biggest regional youth sporting extravaganza, that will see over 1,300 athletes and officials taking part, gathers momentum.
Speaking after his tour of the venues last Friday, the Minister of Sport, Arts and Culture, Andrew Langa, said VP Mujuru would be given a briefing on the progress and state of preparedness of both the local and regional organising committees.
“I’ve toured the venues many times and next week (this week), I’ll again accompany the Vice President Joice Mujuru on her tour of the venues,” said Minister Langa, during a brief press conference at the City Pools.
Meanwhile, Minister Langa has expressed concern on the progress at White City Stadium, venue for athletics.
The tartan track is yet to be erected, with the Minister being told that the materials are still in Durban, South Africa.
The lawn has also not been planted, with just over a month before the Games roar into life.
“I’m a bit worried about White City Stadium, even though I got assurances that they’ll meet the timeline,” said Minister Langa.
Despite erecting the tartan track on the main stadium where athletes will compete, there ought to be another tartan track on the warm up track outside the stadium.
As per international standards, the warm up track must be of the same make, as the one that the athletes will compete on.
During the tour at White City, an official, while acknowledging that they were indeed behind on both the track and lawn, said they were now going to plant bigger patches of loan per square metre,adding that once its planted, all that was needed was enough water.
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