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Ellina Mhlanga Sports Reporter
DEFENDING champions for the National Youth Games, Harare Province, are confident they will retain the title when they battle it out with other nine provincial teams in the annual event that begins in Mutare this tomorrow.

Manicaland are the hosts of this year’s edition and the Games are scheduled to run from tomorrow to August 23 at various venues in Mutare.

Participants will compete in eight sporting disciplines — athletics, basketball, boxing, football, handball, netball, tennis and volleyball.

Harare reclaimed the title from Bulawayo, who won it in 2013.

Harare have won the title a record 10 times only losing it in 2004 to Masvingo and in 2013 to Bulawayo.

However, they are confident they will defend the title despite facing financial challenges that may see them dropping some athletes for the event.

Provincial sports co-ordinator for Harare, Newsten Chipoya, said preparations have been going well and they will compete in all disciplines.

“In terms of preparations all sport codes are preparing at the moment. We are yet to finalise the number we are going to take because of funding but at the moment we have all sport codes.

“Most of our training we were doing it during the weekends because there are school kids but soon after closing schools we have been training every day.

“With the preparations we have made so far we should be able defend our title because we take a scientific approach to our preparations.

“We have qualified coaches, officials and even the medical team. We have a total of 265 athletes and officials,” Chipoya said.

He revealed they were forced to drop some of the athletes in the team.

“We can go with a depleted squad and still win it but ideally we are not only looking at results we are also looking at the educational components of the event, the cultural exchange.

“So we are not looking at results alone.

“We are also looking at development. This is a platform to expose the kids to a higher level of competition so we would want to take everyone for exposure if resources permit.

“If we go with a full contingent we need $21 200 for our affiliation,” said Chipoya.

Sports Commission corporate communications officer, Tirivashe Nheweyembwa, said there were a number of activities lined-up besides the sporting competition, including a visit to Chimoio by some athletes and officials during the Games.

“It is also planned that on August 19 we will have a delegation of athletes and officials travelling to Chimoio to also appreciate what happened during the liberation struggle.

“It’s meant for our young people to make sure we instill in them some sense of patriotism.

“We are going to have a sports conference on the same day, which will be attended by provincial delegates.

The Secretary for the Ministry of Sport, Arts and Culture, Thokozile Chitepo, will officially open the conference.

“The purpose of the conference is to deliberate on issues affecting Zimbabwe’s sport and the Government’s effort to put up a national sport and recreation policy. It’s also an opportunity for provincial delegates to understand the position of the Government and the direction the Government would want us to go.

“Over and above that, there is also going to be a talk on anti-doping by the Zimbabwe Olympic Committee. ZOC is also going to be conducting educational programmes during the course of the Games,” said Nheweyembwa.

This year’s event is expected to feature a football team from Manica Province of Mozambique.

“We have a football team from Manica Province in Mozambique. They are coming at the invitation of Manicaland Provincial Affairs Minister, Mandi Chimene.

“I think this is actually meant to cement our relations with Mozambique and also it’s an opportunity for them to learn what we are doing it in terms of sport development. I think it’s thumbs up to the honourable minister,” said Nheweyembwa.

He hailed Mbada Diamonds and other well-wishers that have come on board to support the Games.

Mbada Diamonds donated some food stuffs and furniture to be used during the week-long event.