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Veronica Gwaze Sports Reporter
FINANCIALLY crippled Sport and Recreation Commission have been forced to massively reduce the delegation to take part in the 12-day biannual Africa Union Sports Council Region 5 Youth Games scheduled for Botswana from December 5.

Initially, SRC had planned to send a 292-member delegation comprising athletes, technical team, management and medical personnel, but were forced to trim that number to 86 due to financial constraints.

Had the sport regulatory body settled for the initial number, they would have needed over $850 000 for the trip, but now need $640 000.

Running under the theme: “Together Celebrating Excellence” — Zimbabwe, Angola, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, Swaziland, Zambia and the hosts Botswana — will participate at the competition.

The Games are also meant to enhance podium success by exposing athletes to quality competition and promoting bilateral relations between countries.

Zimbabwe will only feature in the athletics for the visually impaired, football, netball, swimming and tennis disciplines.

Speaking at the unveiling of Team Zimbabwe at the National Sports Stadium yesterday, Ministry of Youth, Sport, Arts and Recreation Permanent Secretary Thokozile Chitepo said the sports fraternity has been facing financial constraints, hence the decision to trim the delegation.

“As the ministry, we are looking forward to a positive campaign on all the disciplines that we have. We were forced by financial limitations to make a very difficult decision of having to trim such a big number to a very small figure.

“It was a very difficult task because we know all our teams would have increased our chances of bringing more medals,” Chitepo said.

While the selection could have sidelined other sport codes, Chitepo said the selection process did not in any way mean the excluded teams were less important. She said early preparations would be made to ensure that in the ninth edition, teams would not be disturbed by fiscal issues.

“This is an eye opener, next time we are going to want to work very hard and look for funding right ahead so that we do not entirely rely on Treasury to do the funding. We will source for contributions so that we make sure athletes are not deprived of opportunities to showcase their talents. After participating at the national youth games, which is our own, we would love for all to participate at the AUSC Region 5 Youth Games . . .if that does not happen, it is very frustrating because that is a very important opportunity. She said it was the Government’s key objective to ensure that important game events such as the one ahead gave all athletes the opportunity to showcase their talent.

Team Zimbabwe have since upped their preparations, with teams expected to report for camp early next week before they leave for Botswana on December 3.

“As we finalise preparations, we give the teams our full support and we urge Zimbabweans living in Botswana as well to rally behind our teams and support them,” said Chitepo.

Chef De Mission, Charity Nyamayedenga said national sporting associations used performances in various competitions and selection camps as the main criteria for selection.

“We had initially entered a team of 292 which included volleyball, basketball and all the sport codes expected at the Region 5 Games. Due to budgetary constraints, we had to look at which athletes will bring us medals based on previous performances,” she said.

She urged the country to support the development of sport and the corporates to invest into the growth of sport as part of their marketing strategy.