adminMthokozisi Dube Sports Reporter
SOUTH AFRICA’s Deputy Minister of Sport Gert Oostheizen believes South Africa will dominate the swimming competition that got underway yesterday. Gert was speaking after watching his compatriots getting off to a perfect start at the Bulawayo Swimming Pool, all six of them coming first and staying in contention for gold at the ongoing African Union Sports Council Region 5 Under-20 Youth Games.
Accompanied by Minister of Sport, Arts and Culture, Andrew Langa, Gert said with the way the South Africans started their campaign, he was confident that the competition will be theirs to lose.
South Africa’s Waddell Zane finished first in the men’s 20 and under 100 LC metres at 52.02 seconds while Whelan Jessica also came first in the women’s 20 and under 200m LC metres freestyle category at 2 minutes, 08.40 seconds.
Anderson Erin also came first in the women’s 20 and under 100m LC metres breaststroke at 1min,13.14 seconds.
Another South African, Binedell Martin, also came first in the men’s 20 and under 100 LC metres backstroke category in 56,94 seconds.
Zimbabwe’s Lawson James finished third in the men’s 20 and under 50 LC metres breaststroke category while Idensohn Chad came fourth in the men’s 20 and under 100m LC metres freestyle.
Renowned swimmer, Brendan Cyprianos is likely to advance for the finals as he is an alternate in men’s 20 and under 100m LC metre backstroke.
Two swimmers per country advance to the finals.
Zimbabwean coaches, Masi Takaedza (men’s coach) and Debbie Werzlar (women’s coach) still believe their charges will sail through
“We’re ok in terms of the finalists though some of our athletes are from Belgium who’re still trying to acclimatise,” said Takaedza.
Online Reporter