Online Reporter
Ellina Mhlanga, Zimpapers Sports Hub
NATIONAL Association of Secondary Heads president Cephas Mutumhe has declared themselves ready to welcome athletes from the region for this year’s Confederation of School Sport Associations of Southern Africa (Cossasa), Games.
Zimbabwe will host athletes from Lesotho, Eswatini, Namibia and South Africa for the annual event scheduled for August 31 to September 2 in Bulawayo.
Zimbabwe who hosted the Games in 2024 took over from South Africa who could not host this year’s edition.
“We were only requested to host Cossasa in the second week of July. That’s when we were requested to host, just to save the Games.
“We did what we could, made the application to get permission to do that, which was very fast.
“And then we started preparing ourselves for the competition,” said Mutumhe.
“So far, so good. We have gone to see the venues, as the host country. We are happy with the level of preparedness that is there.
“We are happy with the facilities available. I am hoping that when these guys come, they will equally be happy.”
The Games cater for 14-and-Under, and 17-and-Under athletes drawn from primary and secondary schools.
This year’s programme will see participants competing for honours in athletics, football, netball and volleyball.
However, the 14-and-Under athletes are expected to compete in athletics and football.
Teams are expected in Bulawayo on August 29 with the accreditation for the Games set for the following day.
“Because of the timelines that have been given so far, we could not afford to have the whole range of sporting codes being participated in.
“Apparently, because of the size of the contingent, some countries could not afford to bring all of their athletes. So, the 14-and-Under, I think it will only be football boys. Then, athletics, it will be both 14-and-Under and 17-and-Under.
“The 14-and-Under don’t have volleyball, they don’t have netball,” Mutumhe said.
White City Stadium will be the main venue for the Games.
Gifford High School will host football games while St Columba’s High School may host some of the volleyball matches depending on the number of teams that will attend.
Zimbabwe are fielding 163 athletes, and the team is scheduled to go into camp this weekend in Bulawayo.
“Our teams in Zimbabwe are going to be going into camps from the 23rd of this month, which is on a Sunday.
“We are expecting the Cossasa executive to be coming in to be with us on the 26th of August, to familiarise themselves with the terrain, to familiarise themselves with our preparation as we wait for the other countries who are coming in on the 29th.
“Then on the 30th is the accreditation. Then 31, Games start. They are finishing on the 2nd of September, and the 3rd, teams go back,” Mutumhe said.
This year’s Games are running under the theme; “One region, one spirit, and one champion.”
“Sport is not about medals and medals alone. Sport is about relationships. It is making friends.
“It is sharing cultures. There are lots of things that actually come into this thing. We really cherish our children, mixing and mingling with children from the region.
“We are happy that we are also exposing our children to sports tourism.
“Our theme for this year is one region, one spirit, and one champion,” said Mutumhe.
Last year’s Games were held in Eswatini.
