adminFungayi Munyoro Mutare Correspondent
MORE than 600 athletes from the country’s 10 provinces descended on Mutare this week for the fifth edition of the Zimbabwe Open University annual Vice Chancellor’s Games.
The 10 regional ZOU centres are competing for top honours at the games.
Teams are participating in football, lawn tennis, basketball, netball, volleyball, track and field events, chess, darts and pool.
The games started on Wednesday and are expected to come to an end on Sunday.
The games are being played at various centres across the eastern border town.
Games coordinator Edwin Mudondo said that they are expecting to witness stiff competition in all the disciplines.
“We are very happy to be hosting all the regions.
“We have started very well and we hope to continue doing well as the hosting province.
“We have been doing very well in the past editions, but this time around we have the home advantage. We are convinced that this year we are putting up a brilliant performance and making history for our province.
“We have assembled a strong team in each and every discipline.
“The games will run till Sunday. The venues for the games are Mutare Boys High School, Mutare Girls High School, St Dominics, Mutare Poly and Sakubva stadium,” he said.
The tournament, which is being bankrolled to the tune of $71 000, was officially opened by ZOU acting Vice Chancellor Alfred Ncube, with Minister of State for Manicaland Affairs Minister Mandi Chimene also addressing the participants.
Certificates and cash prizes will be given on Sunday at the closing ceremony at Sakubva.
The best performance by Manicaland was a third position which they attained last year when Bulawayo hosted the games.
Bulawayo won the games last year.
Bulawayo’s Mike Matanhike said his province is hoping to clinch the title on Sunday.
“We hope that at the end of the competition we will emerge winners.
“It will be a good thing if we retain the trophy,” he said.
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