adminAll-Africa Games, as Team Zimbabwe steps up their preparations for the Maputo Games.
Team Zimbabwe deputy chef de mission to the Games in Mozambique, Joseph Muchechetere, said yesterday that they will be making their final inquiries to see if the 17 disciplines that will represent the nation at the Games are in good standing with their continental federations.
Muchechetere said it was imperative that they checked whether the disciplines are still affiliated to their continental federations.
The Sports Commission, who are overseeing Team Zimbabwe, have put together a 191-member team to compete in athletics, athletics for the visually impaired, badminton, basketball, boxing, chess, cycling, football, judo, karate, netball, sailing, swimming, taekwondo, table tennis, tennis and triathlon.
“Our 17 sports codes are expected to regularise their subscriptions with their continental federations because they are the ones who run the competitions.
“We need to make sure that all of them are in good standing with their federations before we go for the Games.
“It will be an embarrassment if we go for the Games and realise one or two disciplines have not regularised their affiliation with their federation.
“And since I am responsible for the technical side, these are my issues to deal with and I need to go down to the national associations.
“I know 80 percent of the national associations are in good standing with their federations but the martial arts sports such as karate, taekwondo, judo and boxing, in terms of our experience, have not been participating in continental competitions so we need to check with them and get some feedback.”
At the moment the various athletes are training under the auspices of their respective associations with Team Zimbabwe expected to go into camp on August 24, just days before the start of the
Games which will run from September 3 to 18. Muchechetere last weekend attended the second chefs de mission meeting held in Maputo, together with former basketball star Bertha Faranisi, who will be responsible for the team’s administration during the Games.
“We want to make sure that all deserving athletes participate in these Games,” he said.
Muchechetere said they were impressed with the state of preparedness by the hosts although there are some issues that are still to be finalised.
“We had to tour all sports facilities and the Games Village. I was really impressed with the state of preparedness in a number of ways although there are some items that needs some final touches such as the facilities for judo, basketball, volleyball and taekwondo. The Games Village still needs some work to be done.
“The hosts promised that they will ready by the time of the opening of the Games Village on August 28,” said Muchechetere.
The deputy chef de mission said they also got an update on accreditation and most of the countries are making their final touches.
“We also looked at issues to do with accreditation and most of the countries, including Zimbabwe, are almost ready.
“There are a few things that we need to polish up and the guys agreed that we should be able to conclude by next week. The accreditation cards will be used as visas to get into Maputo,” said Muchechetere.
Several officials, including Anoca Technical Director Robert Mutsauki and officials from the Supreme Council for Sport in Africa, attended the meeting.
Online Reporter