ZIMBABWE’s hosting of the African Union Sports Council Region Five (AUSC) games presents a chance to develop formidable teams for the future in all disciplines.
The youth games have an age cap of 20 years and run from December 5 to 14 in the City of Kings, Bulawayo.
The games will be held under the theme; ‘Reaching for Greatness’.
Eleven nations are participating in the sixth edition of the sporting extravaganza that brings countries in the Southern African Development Community (SADC) region together. They will be participating in football, swimming, judo, boxing, basketball, athletics, netball, basketball and tennis.
As hosts, Zimbabwe are expected to field a strong team that will earn medals.
A total of US$9 million has been injected by Government towards the refurbishment of sports facilities in Bulawayo. Barbourfields, White City and Luveve Stadia – soccer venues – are under renovations.
Zimbabwe need to take advantage of the games and assemble competitive teams that will ensure talent is nurtured to senior levels.
The teams fielded in football, tennis and athletics should be moulded for the future.
There is also need for continuity after the games. The assembled teams should not be for the youth games alone, but for the future. Zimbabwe hosted the All-Africa games in 1995, but lack of continuity saw facilities turn into white elephants including the Magamba Hockey Stadium in Harare, Stodart Netball complex in Mbare and the Chitungwiza Aquatic complex.
Continuity saw members of the 1995 Under-23 soccer team like Chamunoda Musanhu, Alois Bunjira, Gift Muzadzi and Stewart Murisa, Edelbert Dinha, the Muteji twins of Cain and Abel reaching dizzy heights in their careers.
However, the crop failed to assemble a strong senior national team.
Meanwhile, nine venues will be used in Bulawayo for the youth games with Hillside Teachers’ College being the games village.
Last week President Mugabe lit the torch of AUSC Region Five Games starting the countdown to the games.