Batsiranayi Ngugama

BINDURA – Masvingo province defied all odds by coming 3rd in the 2025 National Association for Secondary Heads National Athletics (NASH) competitions held recently at Chipadze High School where the country’s 10 provinces battled for top honours.

After the games, a total of 15 athletes from Masvingo province were selected for the Confederation of Schools Sport Association of Southern Africa (CCOSSASA) games to be held in July 2025 in eSwatini.

The competitions ran under the theme ‘“Run Against Drug Addiction, Empowering a Healthy Nation”, and they lived up to expectations, with Mashonaland West defending the title by winning 17 gold medals ion total.

Second position was taken by Harare with 14 gold medals, followed by Masvingo province with 14 gold medals too.

Team Masvingo, which was led by Dr. Edson Muresherwa of Christian High School, seemed to have been inspired by Provincial Education Director (PED) Shylet Mhike who, prior to the competitions, had urged them to observe maximum discipline and fairness.

“Let us go and compete up to the highest level of the competitions bearing in mind the ethos of ubuntu and teamwork. Competing does not mean you are going to return with all the accolades yourselves; we are sending you there to learn. If you win, learn something; if you lose learn something,” she said.

Athletics and officials from team Masvingo said they were glad that their team had not only observed strict discipline, but had also proved their worth in the competitions.

“THE PED gave an emotional send-off speech so we could not afford to disappoint her. We had one goal to achieve in Mashonaland Central, and that was to do our province proud,” said one official.
Speaking on the sidelines of closing ceremony, Masvingo provincial Head in Charge, Jameson Mundanga of Maungwa High School, praised what he described as good team spirit by officials and the children they led.

“I extend by congratulations to our hard working team. There was excellent leadership and team spirit,” said Mundanga.

Masvingo Provincial Sports Organiser, Denford Kwashirai of Hippo Valley High School, said fair play had been one of the cardinal rules for the provincial team.
“We stressed the need for zero tolerance to cheating, and I am excited that we achieved exactly that and much more. There had been a lot of pressure on us as leaders and on the children too, and it’s not a minor feat that we have achieved what we achieved,” said Kwashirai.

Masvingo Provincial Head Coach, Stephen Mpofu of Neshuro High School, said he was happy leading a team of determined coaches and athletes.

“We look forward to be accorded all the support that we require for a successful campaign at COSASSA, which is our next duty,” said Mpofu.

Other officials extended gratitude to former world welterweight boxer Charles Manyuchi who donated athletics uniforms to Masvingo team Masvingo.

Meanwhile, members of the public have been urged to support the COSSASA athletes in cash and kind. Many of the athletes, who come from less privileged backgrounds, need money to apply for passports so that they are able to travel to eSwatini.