adminZimbabwe is yet to raise enough money for the mission.
Zimbabwe qualified for the finals in April when they came second in the qualifiers in Zambia.
The team is scheduled to leave for Egypt this morning but, as of late yesterday, they had not raised anything to cater for the trip.
BUZ national teams’ general manager, Shinga Magede, said they need US$42 000 to cater for the airfares, accommodation, food and other administration issues.
“Currently we have not yet received confirmation of funding that will see us through with the trip from prospective sponsors we have been targeting.
“Unfortunately, we have not been able to raise anything because all the money the national association had, has gone into the preparatory camps and when we travelled to Zambia for the qualifiers in April we exhausted a lot of resources.
“We are still hopeful something will come up at the last minute. We are supposed to leave tomorrow (today) at 11am and we have not yet paid for the airfares.
“We are supposed to attend the technical meeting which is held a day before the tournament starts.
“This is where certain technical issues are discussed and the hosts give the participating countries a briefing on the situation in the country and what we are expected to do,” said Magede.
Magede said if they failed to send the team for the championships they would be fined according to the FIBA rules.
“If we do not fulfil the games we will be fined up to US$10 000 and if we do not pay up that money we will be barred from participating in any international activity, it is not just the tournaments,” said Magede.
Team coach, Sikhumbuzo Ndlovu, said he was happy with his squad.
“We are just as good as any other team. Others may have advantage in terms of better preparations but we played well against South Africa and Mozambique in the qualifiers,” said Ndlovu.
Team
F. Sekete, M. Majonga, R. Matsekwa, T. Nyandini, F. Chikowore, C. Karingika, I. Kuodza, A. Cummings, P. Gambiza, I. Sibanda, W. Chikotya, L. Mutwira.
Online Reporter