The Zimbabwe National Bass Federation is hosting the inaugural youth Tri Nations Cup. The bass fishing tournament will be held at Mazvikadei Dam and hosted from 9th to the 12th of December 2024 at the Mazvikadei Resort www.resortmazvikadei.co.zw. For the past several years the Zimbabwe Federation and South Africa high school athletes have been competing against each other alternating  years in their countries.  USAngling was invited by both nations to fish in 2025.

Strati Orphanides, Youth Director of the Zimbabwe National Bass Federation, passionately describes the necessity for youth events. “The Zimbabwe Bass Federation welcomes the youth teams and their supporters from the USA and South Africa. This tournament hopes to strengthen the longstanding bond between all the competing nations and to further develop the angling skills of all the athletes. We hope to build lifelong relationships between all the youth anglers.”

Head Coach, Jason Uldrych is “thrilled to have been given the unique opportunity to coach the inaugural USA Bass Team Youth in Zimbabwe, Africa. It’s truly a once-in-a-lifetime experience for our young anglers to compete against Zimbabwe and South Africa fishing for largemouth bass. I’m ecstatic to be working with such a talented group of youth anglers who are all aiming for the highest prize – the Gold! I believe we have what it takes to make a significant impact on the competition. I am looking forward to leading and supporting our team as we embark on this exciting journey.”

Zimbabwe, South Africa and the United States of America youth teams will be competing to catch the biggest largemouth bass in the reservoir.  Each athlete’s catch weight will be comprised of the five biggest bass all three days. But the real challenge will be the competitive format, in a “match play” style having two anglers from opposing nations fish on each boat.   Despite being on opposing teams, the athletes will have to work together to catch their best daily limits.

USAngling Freshwater Fishing Director, Mike McNett, sums up the event. “At the end of the day, this competition between nations and their champions is proof of the power fishing has on human nature as teammates bond closely in their united effort, and lifelong friendships between competitors are also forged.”