Zimpapers Logo

Ellina Mhlanga Sports Reporter
SPORT for people living with disabilities team manager Reward Zvinavashe says the African Games, which get underway today in Congo Brazzaville, are a platform for them to profile their sport.

The Games start today with the opening ceremony set for New Kintele Stadium.

However, some of Zimbabwe’s athletes will miss the ceremony as the team is travelling in batches as and when they are competing.

The continental event is running up to September 19 with participants competing in 22 sporting disciplines.

And some of the disciplines that are still in the country include sports for people living with the disability and judo.

Zimbabwe will compete in 11 disciplines — athletics, beach volleyball, cycling, judo, karate, football, gymnastics, sport for people living with disabilities, swimming, taekwondo and tennis

Zvinavashe said they will be fielding four athletes in athletics — Sheperd Gumede, Ilucky, Laina Sithole and Faustina Madziva and will do their best to bring back home some medals.

“As team Zimbabwe with regards to the para athletes we need to go to Congo Brazzaville and make an impact. “Sport for people living with disabilities is looked down upon so as a result we are looking forward to Congo Brazzaville and hope to come back with medals because that is the only way we can profile our sport.

“Disability does not mean inability, there is an ability in disability. We want to go there and come back with medals.

“In terms of preparations we have done a lot, for the past three months athletes were in camp and they are still in camp,” said Zvinavashe.

Zvinavashe said only Sithole has been to the Games before in 2011 where she came fourth in the 100m visually impaired.

“Having Laina in the fold may mean that she might do better than her previous performance. We have new guys, Sheperd, Iluck and Faustina but they are all potential medallists.

“It’s a new team, however, we are ready and I have a great conviction we will do well,” said Zvinavashe.

Judo manager, Smart Tiyazimba, said they were geared up for the event and will be represented by Lazarus Arufandika and Sydney Chibwayi.

“Our expectations are high because we took much of our time to prepare. We are actually sending the guys who have been to world championships and African Championships so these are high quality athletes who know what to do.

“We are counting much on our experience.

“We are very confident these guys will do well. We have only two guys who will represent Zimbabwe in the Under-66kg and Under-81kg.

“Hopefully those two are going to bring medals, we are actually ready and even now we are still in camp,” said Tiyazimba.

The team will join other athletes already in Congo Brazzaville next week as they are set to leave on Tuesday. Meanwhile, Sport, Arts and Culture Minister, Andrew Langa, who is also chairman of the Region Five Council of Ministers, on Wednesday said the region should take pride in its success in terms of sport activities.

Langa was speaking at the African Union Sports Council Region Five council of ministers caucus meeting in Congo Brazzaville.

“It is apparent that Region Five remains torch-bearers on all matters of sports administration and execution of vibrant sports development programmes including hosting of Games.

“When compared to other Regions and even the level of organisation of the 2015 African Games, we must be proud of ourselves that we are leaders, even though we ourselves can also improve in a number of areas,” said Langa.

Zimbabwe hosted last year’s AUSC Region Five Games in Bulawayo.