adminUZ sports director Life Chemhere said Bindura, Chinhoyi, MSU, Lupane, Nust, Great Zimbabwe, Africa University, Women’s University in Africa, the Harare Institute of Technology and the Catholic University of Zimbabwe are the institutions they were expecting to host.
Chemhere went on to say his institution was well prepared to host the athletics competitions and his athletes were ready to do battle.
“I can well say the preparations for hosting the Zusa athletics competitions are done as we have engaged National Athletics Association of Zimbabwe (Naaz) for officiating and our sporting track and field facilities have been spruced up ahead of the competitions as we look towards hosting a first class competition.
“As for the other universities I can warn them that this time UZ will come out with all guns blazing as we have good all-round athletes this time around,” he said.
Chemhere said his institution was looking at a number of around 4 000 athletes, officials and spectators.
Nust sports director Lysius Charumbira also confirmed that his athletes will be going to Harare this weekend for the Zusa athletics competitions since they had been preparing for them for some time.
“This weekend we are going with our athletes to compete at UZ and we are well prepared and positive of doing well,” said Charumbira.
These athletics competitions are the final selection platform for the Zimbabwe Tertiary Institutions Sports Union (Zitusu) games that are set for 16-20 May where polytechnics and universities will battle it out with the winners progressing to Namibia for the regional Confederation of Universities and Colleges Sports Association.
Zusa president Liberty Maidza said his association was well prepared for this year’s edition of Zusa games and they had secured partnerships with Econet through its Buddie brand, and Baillie International, a company that specialises in sports facilities construction hence this year’s edition is set to be the best competition to date.
“This year’s edition is all about rebranding and we expect to have the best Zusas so far and we are looking and working above board with all things transparent.
“Our partnerships with Econet and Baillie International will go a long way in making this year’s edition an event to remember,” Maidza said.
Meanwhile, the ball games and indoor sports preliminary competitions have been set for UZ and MSU for the northern and southern zones respectively.
Northern zone universities that will converge at UZ are Africa University, Bindura, Catholic University, Harare Institute of Technology, Women’s University in Africa and the hosts while the southern zone universities that will be at MSU are Nust, Chinhoyi, Great Zimbabwe and Lupane.
The top three teams will then be expected to travel to Nust in Bulawayo for the Zusa finals that will be held from 19-22 April.
Online Reporter