adminSikhumbuzo Moyo Senior Sports Reporter
THE draw for team sport for the 13th edition of the Zimbabwe National Youth Games has been released and as is the norm, the host province and defending champions were separated per discipline.
The Games will be held in Mutare from August 15-23 and athletes will compete in six disciplines, basketball, volleyball, netball, football, handball and tennis.
Defending champions, Harare Province, who have dominated the Games since their inception in 2003, will once again start as favourites to retain their title, although Bulawayo, Masvingo and hosts Manicaland cannot be totally ruled out.
According to the draw, Manicaland, Matabeleland North, Midlands, Matabeleland South and Mashonaland Central will be in Pool A in the girls’ basketball while Pool B will have defending champions Harare, Mashonaland East, Mashonaland West, Masvingo and Bulawayo.
Bulawayo was paired with hosts Manicaland, Mashonaland West, Matabeleland North and Matabeleland South in Pool A for the boys’ basketball.
Pool B will see defending champions Harare squaring up with Mashonaland Central, Midlands, Mashonaland East and Masvingo.
Sworn enemies Bulawayo and Matabeleland South were separated from the group stages in both the boys and girls handball categories and the stage has been set for the two provinces to meet in the knockout stages.
The National Youth Games are part of a national strategy aimed at identifying sporting talent among the youths and nurturing it.
Athletes such as Aerial Sibanda (Highlanders goalkeeper), Edmore Chirambadare (Chicken Inn gunman), Pasca Manhanga (Triangle), among other known footballers, as well as basketballers Alexandra Maseko and Vitalis Chikoko were all unearthed at the Games.
Full 13th edition ZNYG draw
Basketball Girls
Pool A Pool B
Manicaland Harare
Mat North Mash East
Midlands Mash West
Mat South Masvingo
Mash Central Bulawayo
Basketball Boys
Pool A Pool B
Manicaland Harare
Mash West Mash Central
Bulawayo Midlands
Mat North Mash East
Mat South Masvingo
Handball Girls
Pool A Pool B
Manicaland Mat South
Mash East Mash Central
Bulawayo Midlands
Masvingo Mat North
Harare Mash West
Handball Boys
Pool A Pool B
Manicaland Harare
Mash West Mat South
Mat North Mash Central
Bulawayo Midlands
Mash East Masvingo
Netball
Pool A Pool B
Manicaland Masvingo
Midlands Mash West
Mash Central Mat North
Mat South Harare
Bulawayo Mash East
Football Girls
Pool A Pool B
Manicaland Mash Central
Midlands Mash West
Mat North Harare
Bulawayo Mash East
Masvingo Mat South
Football Boys
Pool A Pool B
Manicaland Masvingo
Mat North Mat South
Bulawayo Harare
Mash East Midlands
Mash West Mash Central
Volleyball Girls
Pool A Pool B
Manicaland Masvingo
Midlands Mash East
Mash West Mat North
Harare Mash Central
Mat South Bulawayo
Volleyball Boys
Pool A Pool B
Manicaland Harare
Mat South Mat North
Mash West Mash East
Masvingo Midlands
Bulawayo Mash Central
Tennis Girls
Pool A Pool B
Manicaland Harare
Mash West Bulawayo
Mat South Midlands
Mash East Mat North
Masvingo Mash Central
Tennis Boys
Pool A Pool B
Manicaland Harare
Mash West Mash Central
Bulawayo Midlands
Masvingo Mash East
Mat South Mat North
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