The National Youth and Paralympic Games (NYPG) have received a significant financial boost after the Sports and Recreation Commission (SRC) secured a five-year sponsorship worth US$1 million from TN Holdings Group, marking the Commission’s first long-term corporate sponsorship since its establishment 34 years ago.
The sponsorship agreement was officially signed in Harare on Tuesday, just days before the National Youth and Paralympic Games make their long-awaited return following a six-year break. This year’s competition is scheduled to get underway in Marondera next Wednesday.
Speaking at the signing ceremony, TN Holdings Group Chief Operations Officer Godknows Mudzingwa said the company views sport as a powerful tool for developing young people both on and off the field.
“The partnership is intended to empower young athletes by creating opportunities that extend beyond sporting success, while contributing to a more inclusive and sustainable future for Zimbabwe’s youth,” he said.
SRC Director General Allen Mavunga welcomed the sponsorship, describing it as a milestone for grassroots sports development in Zimbabwe.
Reflecting on his own journey, Mavunga said participating in the National Youth Games had opened doors that eventually earned him a basketball scholarship in the United States after representing Zimbabwe internationally.
“The investment by TN Holdings would provide similar opportunities for young athletes across the country, adding that the partnership represents more than financial support but the beginning of a new chapter for youth sport,” he said.
Over the years, the National Youth Games have served as a launchpad for several of Zimbabwe’s top sporting personalities, including former Gems captain Felisitus Kwangwa, former Warriors players Onismor Bhasera and Ariel Sibanda, basketball star Vitalis Chikoko, United States-based athletes Rachel Makoni and Alexandra Maseko, as well as Olympians Ngonidzashe Makusha and Gabriel Mvumvure.
The National Youth and Paralympic Games will be held in Marondera from 12 to 26 August, with the new sponsorship expected to strengthen talent identification, improve grassroots sports development and help nurture the country’s future sporting champions.
