Schools urged to take advantage of Region Five Games

Sikhumbuzo Moyo Senior Sports Reporter
BULAWAYO schools have been urged to take advantage of the African Union Sports Council Region Five Under-20 Games that will be held in the city in December by offering their vehicles for hire. The call was made by the provincial education director for Bulawayo, Dan Moyo, soon after officially handing over an 18 seater kombi to Emakhandeni Secondary School yesterday.

The Games run from December 5 to 15. Schools will close on December 4.
Moyo said a huge number of vehicles will be needed to transport athletes and officials to and from competition venues and the government, through the CMED, will soon be inviting vehicle owners to avail them for use during the two-week sporting jamboree.

Football will be held at Luveve and Barbourfields   stadia, netball and athletics will be at White City Stadium, judo at the ZITF hall five, basketball at ZITF hall three and four, tennis at Bulawayo Athletics Club and swimming at City Pools.

Hillside Teachers’ College will be the Games’ Village.
“Most of these school cars were bought by School Development Committees and the coming of the Region Five Games presents an opportunity for schools to make some little cash. Instead of these vehicles lying idle, schools can take them for inspection by the CMED so that they can be used to transport athletes and in the process realise something,” said Moyo.

He said if schools are willing to avail their vehicles for use during the Games, the little cash realised will go a long way in boosting their coffers.
A minimum of 1,500 athletes from 11 countries in the region are expected to take part in the youth sporting event that will see athletes competing in eight sport codes.