adminMbachi Mutukula-Maregere Sports Reporter
ZIMBABWE’S chef de mission for the All-Africa Games Joseph Muchechetere says the country is expecting better performances at this year’s event in Congo Brazzaville.
The Games will celebrate their Golden Jubilee this year.
There is also a historical touch to the Games as they retrace their roots having been first held in Congo Brazzaville in 1965.
Zimbabwe are hoping to improve from their performances at the last outing in Maputo, Mozambique in 2011 where they came 14th out of 43 nations.
“This year we are going to send a strong team which is made up of quality athletes and officials and this we have made it clear to the National Sport Associations.
“Our objectives is to profile the country through winning more medals at international competitions,” said Muchechetere.
Muchechetere recently attended the first meeting of the chefs de mission for the All-Africa Games in Congo Brazzaville and said the event’s organisers have covered much ground in their preparations.
During the meeting quite a number of issues were discussed and these include Games general and technical regulations and also the delegates had an opportunity to visit the new state-of- the-art Sports Complex and the Games Village.
“Congo Brazzaville is now almost ready to host the Games, they have built a new state-of-the-art sports complex which will host 17 sporting disciplines and the Games Village is also new.
“The Games general rules were tabled and member states agreed to them though there is need for them to adhere to the set deadlines like the payment of participation fees and entry by name of the athletes and officials,” said Muchechetere.
Participating countries are expected to have entered their teams by the end of March including those that will still be in the qualifiers.
Payment of 50 percent deposits for the participation fees will be paid by the end of June. National Sport Associations are expected to be in contact with their continental confederations for details regarding the technical rules and regulations of the Games.
Online Reporter