dyton mupawaenda
Ellina Mhlanga-Senior Sports Reporter
THE LOCAL Organising Committee for the International Handball Federation Trophy Zone Six Junior (Under-20) and Youth (Under-18) Men is this weekend scheduled to meet in Harare to map the way forward on preparations for the event.
Zimbabwe won the bid to host the regional tournament expected to run from May 5 to 12.
Zimbabwe Handball Federation is in the process of seeking clearance from the Sports Commission to host the regional event.
However, they have already put in place a 12-member LOC led by Edson Chirowodza as the chief executive officer.
“So we are going to have our meeting this coming Saturday in Harare. The LOC was appointed early this year but functionality started this February . . . We started with the LOC induction which was held last week.
“We submitted papers for clearance of the tournament to SRC, we are still waiting for the clearance.” Zimbabwe hosted the same tournament in 2022 and their junior team qualified for the continental phase when winning the regional event at Chitungwiza Aquatic Complex. The youth team finished second behind Zambia. This year’s IHF Trophy Zone Six was initially planned for April before it was moved to May. Chirowodza said the weekend’s meeting will focus on several issues related to preparations and hosting of the event.
“We want to set up a dashboard to check progress in every portfolio. Then at the same time, we are going to have presentations from various portfolios in terms of what each portfolio is expected to do and what we want. Also, the national board will assist.
“But we want to focus on our road to the event in terms of infrastructure, refurbishment, securing of accommodation for players and officials. We have to check on the progress of each portfolio in terms of preparations,” said Chirowodza.
While the LOC will be having their meeting, the coaches are expected to finalise the provisional squads this weekend when they hold trials at Houghton Primary School.
“There is also a training camp and trials for the juniors and youth. They are just finalising their selection this weekend. They are going to meet at Houghton Primary.
“So our preparations started way back in 2023 by identifying a long list of players. Our coaches are now working to-wards coming up with the provisional list of 28 players which is due on the 15th of March, where we have to register the players with IHF,” Chirowodza said.
Online Reporter