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Collin Matiza

THE 6th edition of the African Union Sports Council Region 5 awards is scheduled for Lusaka, Zambia on Africa Day this year.

The Regional Annual Sports Awards (RASA) is a prestigious platform for Southern Africa to celebrate the best sports-men and sportswomen of the region.

It is a premium event that places outstanding athletes, Coaches, Technical Officials, and Sports Administrators including the best Region 5 Member Country and Regional Sports Confederation on the pedestal, providing a befitting recognition platform to celebrate our icons.

The RASA is held on or around Africa Day as part of the sport’s contribution to commemorating Africa Day, demonstrating pride in the unique African heritage and engendering a spirit of patriotism.

The event, which runs under the theme, “Celebrating Excellence, Inspiring Innovation”, serves as an opportunity for the sport to commemorate Pan-Africanism and African renaissance, showcasing Southern Africa’s rich sporting talent endowment.

Speaking to Zimpapers Sports yesterday, Stanley Mutoya, the Region 5 CEO, said:

“The 2024 edition of the RASA is unique in that it coincides with the official launch of the Region 5 Silver Jubilee celebrations. AUSC Region 5 attains 25 years of existence this year.

As such the 6th edition of the RASA becomes the launchpad of an ambitious Silver Jubilee commemoration pro-gramme that has been spread across Region 5 Member Countries between May and December 2024.”

As part of the Silver Jubilee celebrations, Region 5 has arranged the official launch on May 25, 2024, during the RASA gala dinner.

During the launch, Mutoya said, Region 5 will be honouring 25 outstanding retired sportsmen and sportswomen that made a positive difference in sport within Region 5 and beyond over the last 25 years.

The Jubilee Awards will be part of Region 5’s expression of gratitude to those men and women who gave their all in the sports trenches to build the regional sports ecosystem that we all enjoy today.

Apart from the launch and the conferment of Silver Jubilee Awards, the commemoration will include a Silver Jubilee Basketball Jamboree in Angola, leading to the inauguration of a Jubilee Basketball court.

South Africa will host the Silver Jubilee Marathon which coincides with 30 years of celebrating South African Democracy.

A Silver Jubilee Torch Relay is scheduled to commence in July as part of the activation for the May 2025 Region 5 Games.

The Torch is meant to commence from Mozambique which hosted the inaugural Region 5 (then called Zone VI) Games in 2004 and ends in Namibia in April 2025. Mozambique is scheduled to host a Silver Jubilee Netball Fiesta as part of introducing netball in Angola and Mozambique.

A Silver Jubilee Netball Court will then be inaugurated in Mozambique.

Botswana, where the AUSC Region 5 Secretariat is based, is scheduled to host a Silver Jubilee Legends Exhibition Foot-ball and Athletics Carnival in October.

Zimbabwe is scheduled to officially launch a Regional Sports Museum meant to coincide with a Silver Jubilee Cultural Festival in November 2024.