adminSikhumbuzo Moyo Senior Sports Reporter
THE Sport and Recreation Commission (SRC) leadership is today expected to meet in Masvingo to inspect progress made so far ahead of the August Zimbabwe National Youth Games to be held there.
Isaiah Mpofu, the supreme sports body’s Southern Region manager, told Chronicle Sport yesterday that the entourage would also tour the various venues earmarked for use during the annual Under-20 sporting extravaganza.
The Games are returning to Masvingo after the 2004 Games which are still regarded as the best ever in terms of infrastructure and the general organisation since the first competition in Bulawayo in 2003.
Meanwhile, administrators and sportspersonalities in Matabeleland North have been accused of a negative attitude towards sport in the province that has seen the province’s Youth Games team going without a new kit since 2004.
The kit was bought following heated complaints after a giant company in the province had allegedly bought a full kit for 234 athletes for another province, disregarding the one it was operating from. The uniform is now worn out and has seen athletes being subjects of ridicule.
“Matabeleland North has talent but the major problem there is that some people in executive positions, who are influential, have a negative attitude towards sport. They see it as a second if not a third class activity,” said the SRC’s regional manager Mpofu.
He said there was a need for a behavioural change from such people.
Ironically, the province’s best showing at these Games was in 2004 where they came an impressive fourth while in Manicaland in 2005, they came sixth with a number of gold medals.
Since then their performance has been steadily deteriorating with the only reason why they have not come below position 10 being that there are a maximum of 10 provinces in the country.
Online Reporter