Chronicle Editor
Leonard Ncube in Victoria Falls
THE National Association of Primary Heads (Naph) Matabeleland North hosts provincial ball games finals at Loziba Sports Grounds in Inyathi tomorrow.
Each of the province’s seven districts, Binga, Bubi, Hwange, Lupane, Nkayi, Tsholotsho and Umguza, will be represented by a team in football, netball, basketball and volleyball.
By virtue of being hosts, Bubi will have two teams in each sport code, bringing to eight teams that will participate in each discipline.
Besides ball games, there will be a quiz competition conducted by a private stakeholder, Music Consultancy Society, to raise awareness about visual performing arts activities among primary school learners.
Sport and art constitute part of the new competence-based learning curriculum.
Government recently allowed schools to resume sporting activities noting that measures introduced to prevent the spread of Covid-19 were bearing fruit, and learning institutions immediately set the ball rolling with competitions at cluster, zonal and district level, which culminated in today’s provincial finals.
Naph Matabeleland North provincial secretary Nelson Nhlalo Masukume said yesterday was dedicated to vetting teams, with players expected to be formal learners aged between 12 and 14 years.
“These are teams that went to cluster and won and became champions at district level. Now they are representing their district at provincial level. Winners will then represent Matabeleland North at the national finals,” said Masukume.
He said the full list of teams expected to participate were supposed to be confirmed by the end of day yesterday after the arrival of all districts.
The host district will be represented by Balanda Primary in football, Lukala in basketball and volleyball, and netball will have Mbembeswana and Lukona. Emhlangeni will represent the district in the quiz competition.
Bulawayo is expected to host the national finals at the United College of Education on a date yet to be confirmed.
The province held its provincial finals and one of the teams that will represent Bulawayo at national level is Mgoqo Primary from Nkulumane 12, in Mzilikazi District.
The school, which is coached by Admose Ndlovu, a Level 1 International Basketball Federation (FIBA) coach and member of the Bulawayo Towers Basketball Club, won all qualifying games.
The theme for this year’s Naph ball games is: “In pursuit of academic and sporting excellence on exit profiles under the new normal.”
Organisers have encouraged all teams to adhere to Covid-19 protocols. — @ncubeleon
Online Reporter