Provincial Paralympic Games team announced

Sports Reporter
THE Bulawayo Metropolitan Province Paralympic Games team was finalised at White City Stadium on Saturday with the hosting of the inter-district championships. Juma Phiri, who is responsible for technical affairs yesterday described proceedings as having gone according to plan. He said at the end of the event they had drawn a list of 181 athletes and officials for the national finals to be hosted by Harare.

The Games will be held from April 7 to 11 and will bring the country’s 10 provinces together. In Harare, national selectors are hoping to identify athletes for this year’s African Championships formerly the All-Africa Games to be hosted by Congo-Brazaville.

“The competition was well subscribed with all our districts represented though we had a lot of Under-15s, unfortunately for them, as it was an open event and were hard done in that they competed with senior guys. In essence, we have athletes for the future in the youngsters who were paraded,” said Phiri who is also the national high jump record holder with 2.16m.

Bulawayo’s trio of Sherperd Gumede, Pray Nleya and Siphosenkosi Ncube, who were part of the Zimbabwe team at the Africa Union Sports Council Region 5 Under-20 Youth Games, are also part of the team.

Gumede won gold in the 400m of the T12 category which is for those with visual impairment.

Nleya was a bronze medalist in the T13 100m in the visually impaired athletes category.

Bheki Lunga, a veteran of many events both locally and outside the country’s borders is part of the team and will compete in the 400m and 800m relays and long jump events.

“This year’s team is likely to do better than last year’s. It’s fairly strong compared to last year when we were seventh, we hope to do far much better. They will be at Eveline High School and our appeal is for resources,” said Phiri.

He said all sports codes for people with disabilities would be represented in Harare.

Meanwhile, in Tsholotsho today there will be a Paralympic workshop organised by the Sport and Recreation Commission in conjunction with the Ministry of Sport and Plan International the sponsors.

Newman Masuku, the Sport and Recreation Commission manager for Matabeleland North said at the end of the two-day workshop they hope to come up with a Paralympic committee to spearhead the discipline in the district.

“We hope that will cascade to provincial level as we start work at district level. We’re grateful to Plan International who’ve come on board to help develop the sport and transform the lives of the community,” said Masuku.

He said the time had come for more effective methods in trying to develop sport and capacity building and setting up of structures were key to that dream.

“As SRC we realised the need for an induction workshop. This is to help athletes and administrators from various sporting disciplines to appreciate their roles and define them. With partners such as Plan International we can’t go wrong in our endeavours of improving ourselves in sport in the province,” said Masuku.

Some of the Bulawayo Metropolitan Province athletes

Visually Impaired Goal Ball

Coach: Madzinde Manhangu

Managers: Jacob Gwananguruve, Shamiso Gadaga

Athletes (males): W Michael, M Chinhengo, A Maendise, T Mafuku, A Mpofu, A Sibanda

Female: C Mesoni, S Mhlanga, L Zvai, C Chidoma, M Mutivi, E Mutize

Guides: A Chikwande, J Mutira, C Malinga, M Ndlovu, R Chikamanga, P Moyo

Wheelchair tennis

Manager: J Mafuku

Coach: MC Dube

Seniors: S Banda, G Vundla

Juniors: O Maidza, S Ndlovu