Online Reporter
Lovemore Dube [email protected]
ZIMBABWE wrapped up the 2026 Cossasa Games in style on Wednesday, with the hosts dismantling Lesotho in the boys’ Under-17 football final at White City Stadium.
Sport Minister Anselem Sanyatwe was the guest of honour.
The final provided a glimpse of the talent Zimbabwe has at its disposal, with the young players displaying skill, physical strength and tactical awareness that could attract scouts from professional leagues.
However, the youngsters will need structured development programmes, regular game time and continued exposure if they are to develop into the next generation of Warriors.
Cephas Mutume, who headed the local organising committee and is president of the National Association of Secondary School Heads, described the Games as a success despite Zimbabwe stepping in at short notice.
Zimbabwe became the host after both South Africa and Lesotho withdrew from hosting duties.
“Overall, we did the best that we could. Everything came out right in all sport codes, with the exception of volleyball, which did not take place to the fullest,” said Mutume.
“Everybody is happy, all the match commissioners are happy. We believe that, given the time 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.”
South Africa had originally won the bid to host the Games but withdrew in the first week of July. Lesotho was then handed the hosting baton but also pulled out about two weeks later, leaving Zimbabwe to step in.
“The original hosts 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,” said Mutume.
He said Zimbabwe was grateful to the Ministry of Sport for approving the country’s late bid to host the Games.
While Zimbabwe showed promise in football, athletics exposed a significant gap between the country and regional powerhouse South Africa.
Zimbabwe’s Ropa Muzondo was among the standout performers, winning the boys’ Under-17 200m and 400m, but South Africa dominated the athletics programme.
Mutume attributed Zimbabwe’s struggles to the separation of athletics from the school calendar.
“Our greatest challenge is that since we moved away from hosting athletics soon after our athletics season, we have always not performed very well,” he said.
He said Cossasa was being urged to separate athletics from ball games, noting that athletics is generally held in the first term while ball games take place in the second term.
“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.
