CHALLENGES IN THE MANAGEMENT OF SPORT IN UNIVERSITIES IN ZIMBABWE

CHALLENGES IN THE MANAGEMENT OF SPORT IN UNIVERSITIES IN ZIMBABWE

KAVES ZVAPANO

This study was on the challenges encountered in the management of sport in universities in
Zimbabwe and how these could be overcome. The purpose of the study was to create a
conducive environment for the development of university students sport. The study was
prompted by experiences of the researcher as a sports administrator, and also by reports that
confirmed the various challenges encountered in the management of sport in universities in
Zimbabwe. The challenges compromised the quality of performance of Zimbabwean
university sports teams at regional and international tournaments. During the study a mixed
methods approach, of both qualitative and quantitative paradigms, was employed, making it a
pragmatic approach, although the quantitative paradigm was dominant. The population of the
study was the Sports Directors of the eleven universities that were affiliated to the Zimbabwe
Universities Sports Association (ZUSA). The Sports Directors were chosen by purposive
sampling and responded to a questionnaire. Sports Team Captains, were also involved as
respondents to a different questionnaire. Students’ team coaches were involved as focus
group participants. The population also included players, supporters, officials and
administrators at the venues of the ZUSA Games. These were for observation purposes.
Opportunistic overt observations were done at three different venues of university games
over a period of one calendar year. These included one preliminary game, one ball games
final and one athletics final. The study found that management of sport in universities
encountered challenges that were related to lack of funding for sport, which generally
affected provision of resources; behaviour related challenges like cheating and indiscipline;
poor administration and lack of professionalism by coaches, officials and players. Besides,
attitude-related challenges among some university authorities, which led to trivialization of
university sport indicated by absence of clear sports policies and committees that represented
sport and, in some cases, lack of sports levy or specific funds. All these challenges negatively
affected the quality of university sport, thereby compromising performance of Zimbabwean
athletes at regional and international sports tournaments because the sport environment was
not conducive to the development of students sport. The study concluded that the various
challenges could be overcome by serious involvement and unity of purpose by all
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stakeholders who are the university authorities, sport management, sport officials, national
sports associations, the corporate world, alumni, the players themselves and the government
through various relevant departments. These should ensure that funding is availed for
university sport development and that formulation of effective policies on sport and their
implementation is done. Furthermore, the study established that there was need for sport
management, officiating and coaching workshops to improve university sport. Change of
attitudes through sports education would also go a long way in ensuring support and
participation that is indispensable in university sport

ZOU

2017