Zimpapers Logo

Joseph Muchechetere

Petros Kausiyo Deputy Sports Editor
TEAM Zimbabwe chef de mission Joseph Muchechetere has hailed the government for injecting a financial package that will help the country’s sports team to participate at the African Games in Congo Brazzaville early next month.

Muchechetere yesterday revealed that government had availed $450 000 to pay for participation fees as well as ensure that Team Zimbabwe will be part of the African Games jamboree in the year that President Robert Mugabe is also chairing the African Union and is the Games chairman.

This year’s edition marks the 50th anniversary of the Games, as well as their return to Brazzaville, venue of the inaugural event in 1965 and 54 nations are expected to converge at the New Kintele Stadium for the opening ceremony while there will be competition in 22 disciplines including two for athletes with disability — athletics and swimming.

The 11th African Games will run from September 3-19 with expectations high that Team Zimbabwe will acquit themselves well and bring medals in both team and individual sports.

Muchechetere expressed his confidence with the preparations that the bulk of the 84 athletes from 11 disciplines have made ahead of the trip to Congo.

“I think the team is well prepared now. We were taken by surprise by the government which confirmed its full support for the Games last week and they have now followed it up with the release of funds and the first tranche should be reflecting in the SRC account any minute from now,” said Muchechetere.

“While we appreciate Government’s support, we are still saying to potential partners and sponsors that we are short of $100 000, which would enable us to charter a flight that will make it easier for our team and everyone going there to work, including the media.

“We are already catered for in terms of the kit and led by the SRC we are in the process of coming up with a standard kit for all national teams, and during these Games we will use one of the designs on trial and we will ask the national associations and the public for their input on the designs, so that we come with the necessary adjustments.

“We want to create visibility for Zimbabwe and market the nation.”

Muchechetere said the Ministry of Health and Child Care had also provided 75 percent of Team Zimbabwe’s drug requirements.

“The Ministry of Health has also done a wonderful job by giving us about 75 percent of all the essential drugs required. We also want to ensure that every member going there is catered for from a medical aid point of view and by tomorrow we should have finalised on that.

“We also have two travel agents that have been helping us with arrangements for the travel because 40 percent of our team is based outside the country and we would want to ensure that all the athletes’ travel is done properly and I think we are in control of that at the moment’’.

Muchechetere said that although Team Zimbabwe had been dealt a blow following the withdrawals of top athletes Gabriel Mumvure and Ngoni Makusha and tennis brothers Benjamin and Courtney Lock, they were still looking strong and ready to battle for honours.

“Basically I think we are in there and most of the athletes have remained active.

“In athletics they have been taking part in a lot of international athletics championships. Sadly, we lost two key athletes, Ngoni Makusha and Gabriel Mumvure due to injuries.

“Benjamin Lock and his brother Courtney have college commitments in the United States and the college is saying this is a crucial moment for them to be there and that is another blow on us.

Muchechetere, who is expected to leave for Congo on Friday, said the Sports Commission was planning on presenting Team Zimbabwe to the Government for a possible send off ceremony by President Mugabe.

“The President is also the chairman of these Games by virtue of being the AU chair because these games are organised by the AU as the mother body and through its organs, like the AU Commission, which in turn established the African Union Sports Council,” he said.