Plumtree business to revive sports facilities
Byo basketball body happy with team’s performance
THE state of derelict of Plumtree town’s sports facilities has raised the concern of the local business community who have since pledged to assist council to revive the amenities.
Plumtree town council has come under fire for seemingly neglecting its sports facilities that have turned into white elephants and at times used for non-sporting events.
Following the outcry, the business community came out calling for council to enter into partnerships with the corporate world in order to develop social amenities in the border town. Dingumuzi Stadium, the town’s only major football and athletics facility, has on numerous occasions been condemned after failing to meet basic standards.
The situation has led to the town losing out on hosting national competitions. Following revelations on the dilapidated state of Dingumuzi and other facilities, the business community said they are willing to assist.
Michael Sibanda, a retailer in the border town, said council must own up and start engaging other stakeholders.
“Our concern is on the state of sports facilities. Why is council not renovating these facilities? It is incumbent upon them to do so. But a solution is there and its up to us to chip in. Plumtree town council has to find alternatives in that regard. We cannot let young talent go to waste,” said Sibanda who is also the proprietor of Golden Harmony Enterprises.
Former Home Affairs deputy minister, Obedingwa Mguni, who is the Member of Parliament for Mangwe, underscored the need for council to pull up its socks. BULAWAYO Basketball Association competitions manager Charmaine Chirinda has expressed satisfaction with the provincial team’s performance at the just ended annual inter-provincial competitions.
A total of four provinces took part in the fiesta that took place in Marondera over the Easter holiday.
Harare province clinched gold in both the Under-18 boys and girls’ categories while Bulawayo came second.
Host’s Mashonaland East were third for both boys and girls while Mashonaland West who only had a boy’s team were fourth in the boys.
“It was a good tournament, l believe our teams did well. We managed to have some our players called up for trials for the 18 Afro basket Qualifiers which is a great positive. Hopefully most of these players make it into the final squad,” said Chirinda.
The Basketball Union of Zimbabwe (BUZ) was using the tournament to select national Under-18 teams for the Afro-Basketball qualifiers in Mozambique in May.
From team Bulawayo Thandolwenkosi Mlotshwa, Tjabuya Ndlovu, Nomathemba Tshalibe, Charmaine Khumalo, Thandeka Ngwenya and Sibonokuhle Mpofu made the girls team that will go for trials in search of places in the Afro-Basketball qualifiers team.
Akhomu Osagiede, Nicholas Zitha, Mthokozisi Ncube, Musawenkosi Masiya, Melno Ncube, Beangtsepo Mazhale, Micheal Musiwago, Zvikomberero Gumbo are the boys who could make it into the team set go to Mozambique.
The Under-18 girls’ were under the tutelage of Mthulisi Makhosana assisted by Lerule Smith, while Jonah Vumah will take charge of the boys’ team assisted by Simba Mbengegwi.
PW Harare 4 4 Bulawayo 4 2 Mash East 4 0
Under-18 boys PW L F FR
Harare 3 Bulawayo 3 Mash East 3 Mash West 3
3 2 1 0 Table Under- 18 Girls L F FR 0 0 211 2 0 151 4 1 29
0 1 1 3
0 136 0 80 0 66 0 41
AD 52 159 120 31 219-190
AD
50 86 79 1 99 -33 95 -54
Pts 8 6 4
Pts
6 5 3 3