adminRay Bande Senior Sports Reporter
FOR the first time in the 12-year history of the Zimbabwe National Youth Games (ZNYG), an 11th provincial team from Mozambique — Team Manica — will partake in the 2015 edition. The ZNYG will roll into life in Mutare in two weeks time. The 13th edition of the National Youth Games is scheduled for August 15 to 23. Team Manica, which is made up of players and officials from Mozambique’s Manica Province, is expected to field athletes in almost all competitions. It will feature in this year’s edition of the annual multi-sports discipline event upon the invitation of Minister of State for Manicaland Provincial Affairs Mandi Chimene.
Chimene is also the patron of the games this year.
About 3 500 athletes and officials, including the Mozambicans are expected to participate in soccer for men and women, handball, tennis, athletics, netball, basketball, volleyball and boxing.
Preparations are now going on smoothly with the Local Organising Committee (LOC) expecting President Mugabe to officially open the games.
Speaking at Presser to brief the media on the progress made in preparations for the annual sporting fête, LOC chief executive Cosmas Chiringa said they were happy with the progress made.
Chiringa, however, appealed to the corporate community to continue chipping in with assistance in cash and kind.
“Preparations for the hosting of the 13th edition of the Zimbabwe National Youth Games by Manicaland Province are going quite well with most preparations on course.
“We have officially invited His Excellency to officially open the games. We have no doubt that our invite is being forwarded through respective channels and will be positively responded to.
“So far, the province has managed to mobilise enough food to be used during the games.
“All district administrators are mobilising resources in their respective districts and so far LOC is happy with the response from different communities in the province, not forgetting the overwhelming support from traditional leaders who have pledged beasts to be slaughtered during the event.
“We will continue appealing to the corporate community here in Manicaland and beyond to continue chipping in with assistance in cash and kind for the success of these games,” said the Mutare District Administrator.
Chiringa allayed fears propounded by recent media reports that LOC was failing to gather resources less than a month before the games start.
He also confirmed that renovation work at the games villages was almost complete and also gave assurance that they would be in good shape by the time the games start.
“Renovations at the games villages are almost complete and will be ready before kick-off.
“Our games villages are Mutare Teachers’ College, Marymount Teachers’ College, Mutare Boys’ and Girls’ High, Chancellor Primary School,” he added.
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