TEAM Zimbabwe for the African Union Sports Council Region Five Under-20 Youth Games scheduled for next month is set to intensify their preparations when they go into camp on November 28 in Harare.

The Games in Luanda, Angola are set for December 9 to 18 and Zimbabwe is sending a delegation of 198 athletes and officials.

Sports Commission acting director-general Joseph Muchechetere confirmed the camp and said it will run until the team’s departure between December 6 and 7.  

 “We do not have resources, we would have wanted them in camp for two weeks. So we are trying to be strategic to use the available resources carefully so that we do not exhaust them before going to Angola. The camp is set for November 28 to December 6 or 7 when the team leaves.

“Currently we have one source of funding, the government. They have paid for almost all the basics to make sure Zimbabwe participate in the Region Five Games in Angola.

“The camp involves a number of things. Our athletes are in different areas of the country, so we now need to bring them together. Some were writing exams and they are finishing soon. We also need to deal with the issues of team building and there is need for fever vaccination. We feel these are issues we should look at as early as possible,” said Muchechetere.

Zimbabwe will compete in athletics, athletics for people with visual impairment, basketball, boxing, football, gymnastics, judo, netball, tennis, and swimming

Muchechetere said they are grateful to the national associations for their support as they continue to facilitate for the training of the athletes in their respective areas before the final camp.

Chef de mission for the team, Chiedza Mafunga said they are looking forward to the camp.

“As the chef de mission I am actually looking at preparing and entering an inspired Team Zimbabwe that will win medals, represent the country with pride and honour,” said Mafunga.

Zimbabwe hosted the previous edition of the Games in 2014 and came second behind South Africa