Story by Mthokozisi Dube
SIXTEEN universities from across the country are competing for top honours at the Zimbabwe University Sports Festival currently underway at the National University of Science and Technology in Bulawayo.
The three-day sporting event, organised by Zimbabwe University Sports, has drawn athletes from institutions nationwide, with competitions taking place across multiple sporting codes during the Easter holiday period.
Zimbabwe University Sports President Olivarth Guvuriro highlighted the significance of the tournament, noting the high level of competition and participation.
“It is a blessed holiday. We are here at NUST, where we have our ZUS Cluster One games running for the next three days. Here we are witnessing athletics that has just started, and we will wind up the day by looking at other sports codes which will be starting from the group stages. We have got sport codes running in this cluster, and most of the sport codes will start from the group stages, going up to Monday where we will witness the finals.
“I am happy to say we have got sixteen universities participating. As you can witness, it is a big crowd here, and the morale is high. We are also delighted with the level of competition that we are witnessing here, and we hope we will get some of the best athletes for the ZITS games set for early next month in Harare,” he said.
Winners from the first cluster will advance to the next round scheduled for Masvingo.
Athletes are also using the competition as a pathway to regional and international events.
“My target is to go to the Africa University Games. Last year I made it to the World University Games. So this year I want to make it to the African University Games,” athlete Rutendo Vushe said.
“I am progressing to the finals. So I am expecting to go for the ZITS and CUCSA games this year,” athlete Lindah Chazika noted.
Following the sub-association competitions, selected athletes will represent Zimbabwe at the Zimbabwe Tertiary Sports Games, leading to the selection of Team Zimbabwe for the Confederation of Universities and Colleges Sports Association Games scheduled for June in Botswana.
