The Sunday Mail
Lawson Madzivanyika
SEVEN provinces are yet to pay their subscription fees for the 14th edition of the National Youth Games, which get underway in Chinhoyi on Saturday.
Provinces are required to pay US$50 per athlete and by the time of going to print only Bulawayo, and Mashonaland East and West had confirmed their participation at the annual event.
Sports and Recreation Commission corporate communications officer Tivarashe Nheweyembwa said the delay in paying subscription fees was messing with their preparations. “Only three provinces have made their payments and this is affecting our efforts to ensure that everything flows smoothly. Athletes will need to be accommodated and fed and all this requires money. We urge other provinces to make their payments on time because the games are just around the corner,” said Nheweyembwa.
At last year’s Games in Mutare, the Harare province volleyball team was disqualified because it had not affiliated. “We hope all provinces will pay on time because their athletes are going to be accommodated for an entire week. We are not expecting history to repeat itself like in the case of Harare and Matabeleland South who last year had teams disqualified for failing to pay their affiliation fees,” added Nheweyembwa.
Defending champions Manicaland are yet to pay their affiliation fees but have declared themselves ready to defend their title.
Team co-ordinator Shupikai Berejena said they had raised the required deposit of US$5 000 and would be depositing it “soon”.
“In terms of preparations, I think we have done enough justice and are expecting nothing short of victory. Most of the athletes who participated at last year’s Games will be competing again, giving the province an advantage over the others.
“Our athletes have also been doing well in regional and international tournaments and we expect them to continue with that fine form,” said Berejena.
