Story by Mthokozisi Dube
BULAWAYO – A call has been made for the Zimbabwe Tertiary Sports Union Games to bridge a gap between tertiary and professional sport.
This comes as the Zimbabwe Tertiary Institutions Sports Union (ZTISU) Games officially kicked off in Bulawayo this Tuesday, attracting athletes from across the country for four days of competition in over ten sporting disciplines.
SRC Director General, Eltah Nengomasha, who officiated the opening ceremony, underscored the importance of tertiary institutions in the national sports development ecosystem.
“These games represent more than mere competitions. They are a celebration of sporting choice, discipline, talent and potential. Our tertiary institutions are not just centers of academic excellence, they are a bridge between school sport and the elite professional stage. Over the years we have lost so many athletes as they progressed to tertiary institutions. It is our duty as SRC to harness the available talent. We have a plan to work with ZTISU to harness our talent,” she said.
Nengomasha encouraged ZTISU to adopt best-practice models from countries like South Africa, where tertiary sport systems have successfully fed athletes into national teams and professional leagues.
ZTISU President, Edward Chekure, welcomed the SRC’s commitment to elevate sport within tertiary institutions.
“We have long prioritised talent development, but the regulator’s plan marks a new chapter that will hopefully create more structured opportunities for student athletes to transition into full-time sport,” he noted.
The ZTISU Games, an annual fixture, also serve as a precursor to the Confederation of Universities and Colleges Sports Association (CUCSA) Games a biennial multi-sport competition involving universities across Southern Africa.
ZTISU comprises three sub-associations, and this year’s edition is expected to further strengthen the role of tertiary sport in Zimbabwe’s broader sporting framework.
