Online Reporter
Lovemore Dube, Zimpapers Sports Hub
THE Carling Black Label Zimbabwe Tertiary Institutions Sports Union (Zitisu) Games burst into full swing yesterday across various venues in Bulawayo, drawing together the best athletes from tertiary institutions that include teachers’ colleges and universities in a vibrant display of sporting excellence and academic camaraderie.
With the games serving as a launchpad to regional and global university competitions, the stakes are high, and so is the quality on show. Beyond bragging rights, the athletes are eyeing opportunities to represent Zimbabwe on bigger stages, proving that academic excellence can go hand-in-hand with elite sporting talent.
“It’s all to play for,” said a Zitisu official. “These Games aren’t just about medals; they bring together future engineers, teachers, scientists, young professionals who also have the talent to match professional athletes stride for stride.”
The Games, which end tomorrow, have turned Bulawayo into a hive of activity, with more than 2 000 athletes and officials descending on the city in what has become a showcase of both talent and the economic spin-offs of sports tourism.
Yesterday featured a full throttle programme including athletics, volleyball, darts, karate and table tennis. Athletics wrapped up after two days of intense action, with national coach Khumbulani Dube hailing the competition as a breeding ground for future champions.
“There were some good standards attained,” said the respected Gwanda-born coach, who is part of the Zusa technical team.
“By design, these Games must be a very competitive platform, capable of producing national records. Their peers like Makanakaishe Charamba and Tapiwanashe Makarawu are breaking records abroad, which shows that those still in the system here are no pushovers.
We look forward to the Championships growing from strength to strength. This platform should produce athletes who walk straight into national teams, just like it happens in the US and Canada.”
Volleyball has attracted large crowds at Hillside Teachers’ College, with Munyaradzi Chigudu, Bulawayo Metropolitan Volleyball Association chairman and technical co-ordinator of the tournament, praising the competition and the opportunities it has created for local officials.
“It’s been a great start,” said Chigudu. “We’ve had two matches each in both the men’s and women’s categories. It’s an advantage to us as Bulawayo to host such a big event. We’re happy that Zitisu has allowed our officials to take part.”
Chigudu confirmed that six teams are contesting both the men’s and women’s volleyball competitions.
In the men’s Pool A opening match, Tertiary Institutions Sports Association of Zimbabwe (Tesaz) (1), representing tertiary colleges, defeated Zimbabwe Teachers’ Training Colleges Sports Association (Zitcosa) (1), the teachers’ training colleges team, in straight sets: 25-16, 25-21.
In the women’s Pool B, university outfit Zimbabwe Universities Sports Association (Zusa) (1) brushed aside (Zitcosa) (2) 25-18, 25-12.
The matches showed flashes of high-quality volleyball, with solid performances across all phases of play, from serves and receptions to spikes and defensive coverage.
In table tennis, Zusa (1) proved too strong for Zitcosa (2) in the singles and doubles matches.
Vongai Zhwakim of Zusa (1) made light work of Tarisiro Ziya with scores of 11-6, 11-2, while Amanda Peresu completed the singles demolition, beating Thembelihle Tshabalala 11-3, 11-7.
Peresu then paired with Nomtshado Milazi to defeat the same team in the doubles. Tshabalala partnered with Kuda Sunhwa, but the duo couldn’t stop the Zusa (1) pair from sealing victory.
Games co-ordinator Itai Mukamuri said everything was progressing smoothly, and all disciplines were running according to schedule.
