Team Zim leaves today

Air Zimbabwe plane for the All-Africa Games, which begins tomorrow in Mozambique.
A delegation of 150 people, comprising athletes and officials, would be joined by more athletes who will connect from their bases in Mozambique.
Africa will descend on Mozambique for the Games which end on September 21.
Zimbabwe women’s basketball team, which was in South Africa, is already in Maputo and will open their campaign with a match against the hosts tomorrow.
The boxing team of Foster Masiyambumbi, Steven Masiyambumbi and Josphat Mufayi has already arrived in Mozambique.
The cycling team will join the rest of the contingent next Monday while United States based tennis player Takanyi Garan’anga and teammate Pauline Chawafambira will also join Team Zimbabwe next week.
Swimming icon Kirsty Coventry will also join the team from her base in South Africa while athletics’ representatives Ngoni Makusha, Thandiwe Nyathi and coaches Tendai Tagara and Adele Dube, who are in Daegu, will join the team from the World Championships currently underway in South Korea.
Chef de Mission Custom Kachambwa, and his deputy Bertha Faranisi, are already in Mozambique preparing for the arrival of the contingent.
Yesterday Team Zimbabwe, which is in camp at Belvedere Teachers College, attended a presentation on anti doping made by doctor Nicholas Munyonga and Shinga Magede.
They have also been participating in presentations on Olympism by Olympic Academy director Eugenia Chidhakwa who addressed the athletes on joy of effort, respect for others and conduct on and off the field.
Motivational speaker Milton Kamwendo also had a session with the athletes meant to motivate Team Zimbabwe to ignite the firepower in them.
Team Zimbabwe liaison officer Tirivashe Nheweyembwa said the team was ready and has received tremendous support from the Government.
“The logistical plan is going on very well and we didn’t encounter any challenges.
“We have also started distributing ceremonial kits for the athletes and there haven’t been injuries from all the sporting disciplines.
“We are humbled by the support from the Government.
“At least we are moving forward and sport is being taken seriously and is now a priority.
“We got all the resources courtesy of the Treasury but the door is still open for the corporate world to partner the team.
“We are not going there as tourists but we are hoping to do better as a nation.
“We are fully aware that we have other disciplines participating for the first time and this is a larger group we have ever carried for the Games.
“Each and every team stands a good chance to win a medal,” said Nheweyembwa.
Athletes who scoop gold will pocket US$500 while silver medallists will get US$250 and US$125 for the bronze winners.
Zimbabwe will be hoping to improve on their 2007 edition show where they reaped 23 medals with a 120-member delegation in Algiers.
Zimbabwe will be represented in 17 sporting disciplines – athletics, badminton, basketball, boxing, chess, cycling, football, judo, karate, netball, sailing, swimming, table tennis, taekwondo, tennis, triathlon and sport for people with disabilities.