Online Reporter
Lovemore Dube [email protected]
ZIMBABWE saved the best for last at the 2026 Cossasa Games, which concluded at White City Stadium on Wednesday afternoon, with the hosts dismantling Lesotho in the boys’ Under-17 football final.
Sport, Recreation, Arts and Culture Minister Anselem Sanyatwe was the guest of honour.
The final provided a fitting showcase of the talent at Zimbabwe’s disposal. The young players displayed skill, physical presence and technical ability beyond their years, offering an encouraging glimpse of the future should professional scouts cast their eyes on the country’s emerging talent.
What is now required is a structured development pathway, regular competitive game time and continued exposure to ensure the players progress and eventually form the next generation of Warriors.
Cephas Mutume, who chaired the local organising committee and is also president of the National Association of Secondary School Heads (Nash), described the Games as a success.
He said that, having stepped in as a last-minute host after South Africa and Lesotho both withdrew in July, Zimbabwe had acquitted itself well under difficult circumstances.
“We are on the final leg of our Games, Cossasa Games As you can see in the background, football is the last match which is being played pitting Zimbabwe versus Lesotho.
“We did the best that we could, everything came out right in all sport codes in the exception of volleyball taking place to the fullest. Everybody is happy, all the match commissioners are happy.
We believe that given the time that we were given to host everything else was in place Cossasa itself and the executive are happy. The principals we invited are happy with the organisation. We did well considering the time we were given to host,” said Mutume.
South Africa had won the bid to host this year’s Games but withdrew at the beginning of July, paving the way for Lesotho to take over hosting duties. However, Lesotho also pulled out shortly afterwards, leaving Zimbabwe to rescue the tournament.
“The original hosts of the Games were meant to be the Republic of South Africa but they took a bit of time to respond on whether they could host or not. It was only in the first week of July when they indicated that they could not host. The baton was then given to Lesotho who also reported in two weeks that they could not host. The Cossasa executives came to us. We approached our ministry.
We are grateful that they quickly responded and gave the nod for us to host the Games,” said Mutume.
Asked why Zimbabwe had finished some distance behind athletics powerhouse South Africa, Mutume attributed the challenge to the country’s athletics calendar.
While Zimbabwe produced standout performers on the track, including Ropa Muzondo, who won both the boys’ Under-17 200m and 400m titles, South Africa once again dominated athletics, excelling consistently in both track and field events.
“Our greatest challenge is that since the time we moved away from the challenge of hosting athletics soon after our athletics season, we have always not performed very well. We are busy trying to convince Cossasa to separate athletics from ball games because in all the countries which participate, athletics is done first term and ball games in term two.
“We are playing second fiddle to South Africa because they have athletics throughout the year, we are trying to see how we can have athletics being done in schools throughout the year,” said the veteran educationist.
Despite the athletics challenge, Zimbabwe’s successful hosting of the Games at short notice and the promising performances by its young athletes ensured the tournament ended on a positive note for the hosts.
