The ManicaPost
Fungayi Munyoro Sports Correspondent
PREPARATIONS for the 10th edition of the Zimbabwe National Paralympics Games set for Bindura in Mashonaland Central Province are at an advanced stage.
The games have been slated for April 7-11 and the launch is scheduled to take place this month-end.
Sports and Recreational Commission co-ordinator for Mashonaland Central, James Maganga, said all was set for the annual event. He said they were expecting a better and more organised tournament.
“We are working very hard to ensure that the event is a success. We are also happy as a province to host such a big event. All things are beginning to take shape. “We are geared up for this big event. The Games will take place at different venues. There will be athletics for amputees and visually impaired.
The intellectually challenged will take part in goal ball and five-aside football. There will be netball, wheelchair basketball and wheelchair tennis. Each province is expected to pay an affiliation fee of $50 per head,” he said. Manicaland Sports and Recreation Commission co-ordinator, Shupikai Berejena, said they were also geared up for this year’s Games.
He said as a province they would conduct final trials on March 24.
“As a province, we will have our provincial selection on March 24 at Sakubva Stadium. All our seven districts have already conducted their trials and will be represented. We are expecting to come up with a team of 168 players and officials.
“All the selected athletes will take part in various disciplines. We will have a team for netball, wheelchair basketball goal ball, wheelchair tennis, athletics and five aside soccer. As a province, we have been doing very well and we have been in the top five for a while now,” he said. Berejena appealed to the corporate world to give the sporting fiesta ample support.
Manicaland Province has been doing well after playing host to the event in 2010.
The province once came second in 2012 ahead of Harare Province that has been dominating the Games. In that year, the Games were won by Bulawayo Province.
Berejena promised more medals for the province.
“We will make the province proud this year by winning more medals. We are geared up. We are appealing to the corporate world to come on board and sponsor us.
“We are also hoping to get sponsorship from our partners. It is also open to everyone who wants to donate. Let us be united and with all the support we will make it. It is also a platform for our athletes to showcase their talents,” he said.
Manicaland will host again the Games in 2021.
