MARTIN MAWAYA
GWERU-All is set for the Midlands inter‑district handball tournament, which kicks off on December 5, with more than 500 athletes expected to take part.
The mega event will see 92 officials overseeing matches during the two day competition at Chaplin High School in Gweru, which will feature Under‑14 and Under‑18 teams drawn from all eight districts in the province.
Speaking at a press briefing on Tuesday, Midlands Handball Association chief executive officer Farai Gwisai said the tournament was the first of its kind in the province and forms part of a long‑term athlete development programme aimed at grooming young talent while combating the drug scourge.
Gwisai said the event was designed not only to identify top performers but also to use sport as a tool to steer young people away from drugs.
He said the association expected 544 athletes and confirmed that management and organizing committees were already in place to ensure smooth running of the games.
The association has partnered with the National Aids Council, Red Cross, Zimbabwe Republic Police, Gweru City Council, the Ministry of Youth and other organizations to support the initiative.
“We are using handball as a vehicle to gather our youth and educate them on abstaining from drug abuse,” he said.
Gwisai added that the tournament, supported by Zimsports4ED, would showcase emerging talent from across the province.
Association secretary general Leslie Mberikunashe said the tournament aligns with the body’s mandate to promote, develop and regulate handball activities in the province.
He said participation and entry would be free, with participants drawn from Mberengwa, Gokwe North, Gokwe South, Zvishavane, Gweru, Chirumanzu, Shurugwi and Kwekwe.
Mberikunashe said the competition, running from 5 to 7 December, was also expected to give coaches and referees an opportunity to refine their skills and operate in line with handball standards.
He said the event’s theme, “fighting drug and substance abuse through handball sports”, reflects the nation’s wider campaign to curb drug abuse among youths.
Winners will walk away with trophies and medals.
