Chronicle Editor
Lovemore Dube
PREPARATIONS for the Confederation of Schools Sport in Southern Africa Championships (Cossasa) have gone a gear up with the Zimbabwe teams in camp and ready for the event which starts on Tuesday.
The Zimbabwe team went into camp on Thursday.
Head of publicity, Dave Simba confirmed yesterday that the teams have assembled without any incident and were raring to go.
This year’s event brings together children from primary and secondary schools drawn from five countries, Eswatini, Lesotho, Malawi, Zambia and Zimbabwe to take part in a number of sporting disciplines.
Initially Lesotho was expected to play host to the athletics competition in April but indicated that they would no longer be in a position to at the 11th hour.
Zimbabwe who had already been given the ball games then stepped in and spoke to its principals who gave them the nod to have both athletics and ball games hosted here in Bulawayo.
The city is expected to be abuzz with activity this week with the competitions starting on Tuesday at various venues with White City Stadium to play host to both the opening and closing ceremony and finals for a number of sports codes lined up for next Thursday at the facility.
Simba said accreditation has begun at Eveline High School and urged media practitioners to go and get accredited.
He disclosed that school teams from other countries are expected in Bulawayo today and will be housed at a number of schools with boarding facilities in the city.
“Team Zimbabwe is at Northlea and Gifford, Founders and Townsend are also playing host to the teams,” said Simba.
Yesterday the local organising committee held a meeting in the city to put the final touches to an event that is going to contribute to the city’s sports tourism figures for 2024.
A senior member of the local organising committee Norman Gombera, called on the corporate sector to come on board and support the next generation of stars.
“It was meant to assess the levels of preparedness of various local organising committees. Indications are that we are all ready to go,” said Gombera.
Gombera assured the nation that everything that had to be done in terms of preparations had been attended to.
Team Zimbabwe was selected through a rigorous exercise that began at cluster level right up to inter-provincials.
Bongani Ndlovu