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Fungayi Munyoro Sports Correspondent
TEAM Manicaland will go into camp on Thursday as the province steps up its preparations for this year’s edition of Zimbabwe National Youth Games set for Hwange from August 17 to 27.

The 15th edition of the re-branded Zimbabwe National Youth Games will have a total of 22 sporting disciplines and, for the first time, involve uniformed forces as well as tertiary institutions in the Under-23 category.

The new sport codes are rowing, swimming, rugby, cricket, pool, chess, darts, gymnastics, weightlifting, martial arts, cycling and table tennis.

Sports and Recreation Commission provincial co-ordinator Shupikai Berejena said that the preparations are underway.

Berejena added that all the sporting disciplines have provided their provisional squads for the Games.

“We are now at an advanced stage as far as the preparations of the Zimbabwe National Youth Games are concerned. All the teams are geared up,’’ said Berejena.

“The teams will troop into camp on Thursday. We do not doubt the selection that we are doing. For the schools, the selection was done during the NASH Games. We are now ready for any province.

“The Games used to have eight sporting codes mainly for the Under-18s but now will extend to cover the Under-23s from uniformed forces, tertiary institutions, the schools platform as well as the community sports platform.

“This will ensure that all the talent is captured creating a huge base from which to select talented athletes for higher level training and exposure. The re-branding also helps accommodate more members of the community.

“The 22 disciplines now include football, netball, volleyball, handball, rugby, cricket, hockey, basketball, weightlifting, shooting, rowing, athletics, boxing, cycling, swimming, tennis, karate, golf, pool, darts, chess and table tennis.”

Team Manicaland only won the 13th edition since the launch of the Games in 2003.

Last year Masvingo emerged winners followed by Harare, Mashonaland West and Manicaland.

Mashonaland East were on fifth place followed by Matabeleland North, Mashonaland Central, Matabeleland South and Midlands.