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Collin Matiza Sports Editor
IN what could be a big gaffe for local organisers of the FIM Africa Motocross of African Nations Championships, some officials from Uganda were by yesterday still stranded at Chirundu Border Post with all the bikes that their riders intended to use during this weekend’s international event at Donnybrook.

Uganda recently indicated that they would be sending about 27 riders for this year’s African championships, which is also expected to attract top junior and senior bikers from six other countries — Angola, Botswana, Kenya, South Africa, Zambia and the hosts Zimbabwe.

The East Africans dispatched their motorbikes for Harare by road at the weekend and their “advance party” is reported to have arrived at Chirundu Border Post on Sunday night, but they were not allowed to cross into Zimbabwe by Zimra officials as they did not have proper papers for the bikes.

Shaun Whyte, the chairman of the Bog-wheelers Club who runs the motorcycling sport in this country, confirmed this yesterday.

“I understand that the Ugandan officials arrived with the bikes at Chirundu Border Post on Sunday evening, but they were not allowed to cross into Zimbabwe because they didn’t have the correct papers for the bikes.

“In fact, it’s just a Zimra procedure which they need to go through and I’m currently trying to do something and make sure that they are cleared to bring the bikes in,” Whyte said.

The Bogwheelers Club chairman was hopeful that the Ugandans would be cleared in time for this weekend’s continental event which is expected to attract a full house at the home of local motorsport. Whyte said apart from the Ugandans, there was also a large entry of riders from South Africa and Zambia.

“South Africa have entered 44 riders and most of their bikes are already here in Harare. We are expecting 29 to 30 riders from Zambia and they should be arriving here this evening (last night) and the Kenyans have indicated that their bikes are already on their way to Zimbabwe and should be arriving anytime from today (yesterday).

“So, I can safely say everything is now in place for us to host this big international motocross event at the weekend. I’ve been to the track yesterday (Monday) and it is looking good,” Whyte said.

Competitors at this weekend’s FIM Africa Motocross of African Nations Championships will battle it out for the top honours in nine classes and Whyte said Zimbabwe will be represented by five riders in each class bringing the number of bikers in Team Zimbabwe to 45

“In fact, we have a big pool of 69 local riders who have entered for this event, but we are allowed to field five riders in each class who will be scoring points for Zimbabwe, while the rest (24) are what we call white bib riders and they don’t score points, but they can take some points away from the foreign riders if they finish ahead of them in any of the races and this could help us in our fight to emerge as the overall winners of this event,” Whyte said.

Team Zimbabwe for this year’s FIM Africa Motocross of African Nations Championships will be captained by the country’s former champion rider Ashley Thixton.