Coach Matanga (left end) and assistant coach Simango (right) show positions on the field to GFP workshop attendees. (Photo courtesy of Zimbabwe Softball Association)

GFP WORKSHOP AT CENTER OF HIGH SOFTBALL ACTIVITY IN ZIMBABWE
2010-12-02

The Zimbabwe Softball Association sent a very youthful and highly-skilled five member delegation to the Zimbabwe Olympic Committee-organized Generations For Peace workshop that began earlier this week and runs through Sunday (December 5).

The delegation is led by their men’s national team coach Mubuso Matanga and umpire-in-chief Steven Mataswa. They are assisted by men’s team assistant coach Yasser Simango and 16-and-under girls national team assistant coach Kimberly Adams and men’s national team player Grant Machikiti, who is also the Zimbabwe Softball Association’s Olympic Ambassador and players representative.

The delegation forms part of the facilitators at the workshop and is teaching and training attendees on how softball is played. The aim of the workshop is to spread Olympism, peace, and fair play at all levels and educating people on the uniting and developmental effects that sport brings about in communities. The International Softball Federation has lent support by sending equipment for use at the workshop and all the outreaches and national camps held by the ZSA and those organized by Zimbabwe Olympic Committee.

In the meantime provincial softball associations are being restructured so as to allow the sport to grow and also to pave the way for proper administration in the provinces. The Harare Softball Association, led by Ms. Ruvimbo Dzimba, is already working and restoring order in the province while the new Mashonaland West Committee, led by Mr. Chitsaka, is working to revive the sport in the province. The Jonathan Maindidze led Mashonaland Central Softball is still facing equipment challenges while a meeting was held last week to reorganize a substantive Manicaland Softball Association that had been hit by migration of executive members to other countries. The Association has also planned to tackle structuring of Bulawayo and Midlands provincial associations in the first quarter of 2011 so as to make sure that it’s in compliance with the Sport and Recreation Commission Policies and ZOC and ISF statutes.

The other three provinces will witness the introduction of softball within the first half of 2011. Vast growth is being witnessed with the emergence of softball in primary schools. Meanwhile ZSA President Mr. Stonard Mapfumo was to attend the official opening of the workshop to advance softball’s participation in that program.

And, another sign of the sport’s high level of activity in Zimbabwe is seen in the Guruve Sports Development Association’s plans for a sporting festival in the next two weeks, with softball being part of the proceedings. The association has confirmed that the softball clubs in the area will be part of the multi-sport festival and have extended an invitation to clubs from all over the country to come and support their initiatives in developing softball in the rural areas. Mr. Chatyoka from the Guruve community said that they are very excited to have a year close down with a big festival. ZSA President Mapfumo has promised to support the festival and send word to all provinces to be part of this noble initiative in rural softball development.