Athletes intensify preps for Region 5 Games

About 227 athletes making Team Malawi at the African Union Sports Council (Ausc) Region 5 Youth Games will go into the third and final camping on Monday in Blantyre.

Malawi National Council of Sports spokesperson Edgar Ntulumbwa yesterday said the two-week camp is in preparation for the games scheduled for December 2-11 in Lilongwe.

Malawi will compete in 10 sporting codes, namely football for both boys and girls, netball, volleyball, basketball, athletics, taekwondo, judo, boxing, swimming and tennis.

“E-sport will also be among the disciplines at the games on trial basis,” he said.

The first camp was held in June in Blantyre while the second camping session took place in September in Lilongwe.

During the Lilongwe camping, athletes were monitored by their coaches, Malawi Schools Sports Association and officials from Sports Council.

Ntulumbwa said Team Malawi is expected to depart on November 27 for Lilongwe for the games ahead of the opening ceremony on December 2 at Bingu National Stadium in Lilongwe.

Team coordinator Felix Yola said they target a top three finish.

He said: “There’s a lot of enthusiam and commitment from our athletes and they can’t wait for the games. As hosts, we want to win as many medals as possible and the final camping offers us that opportunity to work on final touches.”

Ten countries, namely Malawi, Mozambique, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Lesotho, e-Swatini, Angola, Namibia, Botswana and South Africa will compete for regional honours at the games while Mauritius and Seychelles are coming in as guest participants.

During last year’s Region 5 Youth Games in Lesotho, Team Malawi won 29 medals, two gold, 10 silver and 17 bronze which was its best ever.

Ntulumbwa said Sports Council expects Malawi to break the record that was set in Lesotho.