FAITH NDOU
MASVINGO-Ten students from Masvingo Polytechnic and Great Zimbabwe University (GZU) have been selected to represent Zimbabwe at the upcoming Confederation of Universities and Colleges Sports Association (CUCSA) games scheduled for Gaborone, Botswana from June 28 to July 5 2026.
The athletes secured their places following impressive performances at the recently held Zimbabwe Tertiary Sports (ZiTS) Games in Harare.
They will join other top tertiary athletes from across the country as Team Zimbabwe prepares for the regional competition.
Masvingo Polytechnic contributed six students in athletics, soccer and tennis disciplines.
Francis Charumangwe and Tadiwa Siyaganda earned selection in athletics while Blessed Dzingai and Ben Antonio were chosen for the men’s soccer team.
In tennis, Morgan Mkwanila secured a place in the men’s category while Tanatswa Tanyongana and Edna Mhango made the women’s team.
Masvingo Polytechnic Sports Director Erikana Mangwiro expressed pride in the achievement.
“We are happy as an institution to have our players selected for the CUCSA Games. This shows that we are growing in terms of sports development. We are proud of them and wish them well,” said Mangwiro.
Great Zimbabwe University will send four representatives to the regional competition. Ezra Phiri and Victor Dube were selected in athletics while Mejury Zvivada and Monalisa Tachiona earned places in women’s soccer.
GZU Sports Director Oliverth Guvuriro also hailed the achievement, highlighting the institution’s growing presence at regional competitions.
“As GZU, we are proud to send four students this time around. In 2024, three students managed to qualify for the games which were held in Pretoria,” said Guvuriro.
The selected athletes are expected to begin preparations with other Zimbabwean tertiary athletes ahead of the regional sporting showcase which brings together universities and colleges from across seven countries in Southern Africa.
Participating nations include Angola, Eswatini, Lesotho, Malawi, Namibia, South Africa, Zambia, Zimbabwe and hosts Botswana.
CUCSA is a regional sports body that promotes sporting excellence and competition among universities and colleges in Southern Africa. The games also provide a platform for young athletes to compete at a higher level while fostering regional integration and unity under the theme, “One Region, One Dream.”
