African Games team finalised

Bukhosi Mangena Sports Correspondent
ZIMBABWE have finalised the 155-member African Games squad that will go into camp in Harare on August 28 ahead of the continental sporting showcase in Congo-Brazzaville next month.

The games are scheduled to run from September 4-19.

The travelling contingent was whittled down from an initial 220 athletes due to unavailability of resources and injuries.

Medal prospects Ngoni Makusha and Gabriel Mvumvure, both based in the United States, pulled out of Team Zimbabwe through injury, while the senior basketball team was released due to their Afro Basketball Championships’ commitments.

The team will comprise 136 athletes, 12 members of the medical team and seven officials. Swimming sensation Kirsty Coventry will captain the side.

About half the squad has already secured accreditation and the remainder are expected to be accredited before the team flies out for the games.

Team Zimbabwe’s chef de mission Joseph Muchechetere said the team had requested for $500,000 from the government for the games and they were still waiting for a response.

He said they wanted to use the money to charter a plane, pay medical insurance and participation fees as well as to acquire kits for the team.

“We’ve been invited by the host country to finalise our accreditation and that’s going on well.

“We’re yet to get the full amount that we requested from the government. We’re going into camp at the end of this month, but most of our overseas-based athletes will meet up with us in Brazzaville to cut costs,” said Muchechetere.

“We’re planning to charter an Air Zimbabwe plane to transport us to and from Congo and that’s why we need that money,” he said.

Zimbabwe will compete in athletics, beach volleyball, cycling, men’s football, tennis, swimming, karate, judo, taekwondo and sports for people with disabilities.