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THE Zimbabwe Swimming Board of Control (ZSBC) has refuted allegations that it had frozen out the Isemonger brothers Jamie, 18, and Luke, 21, allegedly forcing them to relocate to South Africa.
Jamie now represents South Africa and was part of the neighbouring country’s Commonwealth Games’ swimming team in September where he hauled seven medals, which included two gold, one silver and four bronze.
Jamie is not eligible to represent Zimbabwe while his older brother Luke, who swims for the Durban-based Seagulls Swimming Club, has not changed his sports nationality to South African and can represent Zimbabwe if he is cleared by his club and Swimming South Africa.
The ZSBC said they would be happy to have Luke back if he is cleared as he is a top swimmer.
According to correspondence from the boys’ father Bill Isemonger addressed to Zimbabwe Aquatic Union president Mary Kloppers on June 30, 2012, and gleaned by Chronicle Sport, Jamie and Luke were going to renounce their Zimbabwean passports.
“This is to inform you that Luke and Jamie Isemonger are to renounce their Zimbabwe passports, proof of this will be forwarded to you when this is done. This will mean that they can’t represent Zimbabwe where Zimbabwe passports are required (Zone 6 Luke). They will swim all other events if chosen, where Zim passports are not compulsory,” Bill Isemonger wrote.
The older Isemonger followed this up about two years later on May 13, 2014, with another letter to the Matabeleland Swimming Board chairman asking that his sons be released from Zimbabwe swimming.
“Both my sons have decided to swim for their country of citizenship, South Africa. Please help me to facilitate this as soon as possible. I will need proof of their release from Zimbabwe swimming,” he wrote.
On June 1, 2014, Kloppers wrote to Swimming South Africa’s Shaun Adriaanse confirming the release of Jamie and Luke.
“This serves to confirm that the Zimbabwe Aquatic Union releases Luke Isemonger and Jamie Isemonger. They have indicated they will be changing sports nationality to South African. The one-year transfer period is effective from June 1, 2014. We wish them the best in their endeavours,” read the letter.
However, after the 12 months’ transfer period lapsed, only Jamie had transferred his sports nationality, according to Fina, the international governing body for swimming, diving, water polo, synchronised swimming and open water swimming, in correspondence to the Zimbabwe Aquatic Union on June 3, 2015.
“Please be informed that Fina has approved the sport nationality transfer of the athlete Isemonger James in swimming from Zimbabwe to South Africa. The athlete will be eligible from June 3, 2015,” the letter from Fina’s legal department reads.
The two brothers said they train with multiple Olympic gold medallist Chad le Clos in South Africa and Luke even boasted that only only Kirsty Coventry had won more medals than him among Zimbabwean swimmers.
Online Reporter