adminMadagascar, tomorrow, have hit a snag after the Zimbabwe Kickboxing Association failed to secure funds for the trip.
The team was made up of national champion, Brighton Tangata, Ronald Deketeke and the Bazioni brothers – Knowledge and Norbert.
The fighters were originally scheduled to leave for Antananarivo on Thursday before the trip was moved to yesterday afternoon.
The championships are acting as qualifiers for the World Championships scheduled for Dublin, Ireland, in November.
Zika had yesterday opted to send two representatives and still could not cater for the travelling expenses after the hosts promised to take care of other expenses such as accommodation and food during the tournament.
The national association needed more than US$5 000 for the trip but failed to raise the money in time.
However, Zika president, Tony Kamangira, remained optimistic and said they still have a chance to qualify for the World event as they have been invited for the Inter-Continental championships in Mexico early next month.
“The championships are part and parcel of the World Championships’ qualifiers and we would not have wanted to miss the event but our problem is money. Brighton has already qualified for the world event.
“We will just wait for the next event to be held in Mexico on October 8, we got an invitation to compete in the inter-continental championships and we still have an opportunity,” said Kamangira
Tangata booked his place at the World Championship when he won a bronze medal at the World Cup in Sao Paulo, Brazil, in May.
Lack of resources have seen local fighters participating mostly in tournaments in South Africa which has resulted in most of them failing to make a breakthrough both at continental and international level.
Online Reporter