adminInnocent Kurira, Sports Reporter
THE Zimbabwe Tertiary Institutions Sports Union (ZTISU) Games kicked off in Bulawayo yesterday with over 4 000 athletes participating.
Athletes will battle it out in 17 sporting disciplines with the competitions expected to end tomorrow where winners will be announced.
Three tertiary bodies namely Zimbabwe University Sports Association (Zusa) which are university representatives, Zimbabwe Teachers’ Colleges Sports Association (Zitcosa) as well as the Tertiary Education Sports Association of Zimbabwe (Tesaz) an amalgamation of polytechnic colleges will battle for honours at the Games whose principal sponsors are NetOne through their OneMoney brand.
The Games were officially opened by OneMoney brand manager Dennis Chagoda at White City Stadium yesterday.
Speaking at the event Chagoda urged athletes to participate with a positive spirit.
“We are excited to be part of this important event. Sport has not only become a source of employment for some people but also a good springboard for networking among sport-persons. As we partake in these activities, I want to strongly urge particularly the participants, to compete with a positive spirit. Positive competition breeds great players,” said Chagoda.
A member of the Games’ orgainising committee, Martin Zibwi said: “We expect to have high levels of competition. I am certain that all athletes taking part in this year’s event will compete in a friendly atmosphere governed by fair play and reflecting the true spirit of university sport.”
The competition will be used to select athletes that will represent the country at the bi-annual Confederation of Universities and Colleges Sports Association of Africa (CUCSA) Zone V Games to be hosted by Botswana in June.
This year’s competition will run under the theme ‘Promoting students networking through sport’.
Action began yesterday with athletics taking centre stage at White City Stadium. Bulawayo Polytechnic will play host to chess and karate while Northlea High School will house basketball, handball and women’s soccer. Men’s football is slated for outside grounds at Barbourfields Stadium.
Rugby enthusiasts are expected to converge at Harstfield Rugby Grounds while hockey will be played at Khumalo Hockey Stadium.
Harry Allan will play host to golf while volleyball action is pencilled for Milton and Eveline High Schools respectively.
Online Reporter