From Godknows Matarutse in BINDURA
ZIFA technical advisor, Klaus Pagels, yesterday donated eight soccer balls to the four teams that will play in today’s finals set for Chipadze with each team getting two balls each. The contribution came from the German Society in Zimbabwe to improve sport development in the country.
Bulawayo Metropolitan Province boys and girls soccer teams, Mashonaland West boys and Harare girls team were the four finalists who got the balls after they triumphed in their semi-finals.
Pagels hailed the level of play and outlined the  importance of  supporting sport and upgrading the facilities.
“It is really important to give them balls and, if possible, other equipment so that they can go for real proper training sessions.
“In some areas they do not have balls or anything but if they  want to improve they must get good facilities.
“This pitch is not good to  play football they must try and put in place  real facilities that match with international standards and good equipment.
“I know this is a small donation but I hope they can use it to improve their  skills,” said Pagels.
Meanwhile, Matebelend South girls’ handball team put last year’s misery behind them as they brushed aside Bulawayo 19-9 to cruise into the finals of this year’s competitions at Bradley High School. After suffering an agonising semi-final exit at the hands of Masvingo at home in Gwanda last year, they booked a ticket into the final where they now face Mash East who dismissed hosts Mash Central 14-9.
Matebeleland South coach, Kingstone Jamela, now wants his team to take the gold medal.
“It was a tough match and credit should go to the girls for a spirited performance. It is a culmination of hard work that has brought this success.
“The girls have been responded well to the drills that we set and it’s good that we are in the finals.
“We hope to win the gold medal this time around,” said Jamela.
In boys’ handball, Manicaland trounced Mashonaland East 26-10 and progressed to today’s finals where they will meet either Bulawayo or Harare who played late yesterday.
In men’s 200m race Matebeleland South walked away with a gold medal, Manicaland settled for silver and Masvingo scooped a bronze.
In the women’s 200m, Mash West won gold with Harare settling for silver and Bulawayo won bronze.
The National Youth Games was launched in 2003 in Bulawayo and this year’s competitions mark their 10th anniversary and the seven-day sporting show comes to an end today.
The Games serve as a platform to identify, test, measure, evaluate and develop talent for local, regional and international events in line with the Sports and Recreation Commission Strategic Plan.