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Ellina Mhlanga Sports Reporter
THE ZIMBABWE Olympic Committee are set to announce the final Team Zimbabwe next week at a fund-raising dinner to be held at the Rainbow Towers as the Rio 2016 Games gets closer.

Zimbabwe will be represented in athletics, archery, equestrian, football, rowing, swimming and shooting at this year’s Olympic Games scheduled to run from August 5 to 21 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

The team will be led by chef de mission Titus Zvomuya, who is expected to leave for Brazil on July 23, while the first batch of the team and officials are expected to leave on July 26.

Zvomuya said they have the final team in place but will be announced next week on Wednesday in Harare.

“The final team will be announced on July 20 at a fund-raising dinner that will be held at the Rainbow Towers Hotel. This is when the team will be presented to the Minister of Sport and Recreation.

“The chef de mission and administrative officer, Memory Pakati, will leave on July 23 to ensure that all the logistics are in place when the team arrives in Rio.

“The first batch of locally-based athletes and officials depart on July 26. All externally based athletes and officials will travel from their bases straight to Brazil and all the necessary arrangements have been made,” said Zvomuya.

The qualification period is now closed and the National Olympic Committees are expected to submit the final teams online to Rio by July 18. ZOC had set July 12, which was on Tuesday, as their internal deadline.

Zvomuya said although the team’s preparations may not have gone the way they wanted due to limited resources but insisted they were still satisfied.

The veteran administrator added that they are grateful to Bindura University of Science Education and the Ministry of Sport and Recreation for rescuing the Mighty Warriors, who had challenges going into camp ahead of the Games.

The team had their first camp specifically focusing on the Rio Games in May for two weeks. The training camp was concluded by a friendly match against South Africa’s Banyana Banyana.

South Africa is the other country that will represent Africa at the Games.

“Special thanks to Bindura University of Science Education, the Zimbabwe Olympic Committee and the Ministry of Sport and Recreation, who came to the Mighty Warriors aid as the team was struggling to come into camp.

“However, I am very happy that the majority of externally based players have been preparing hard and attending key competitions as part of their preparations. I am also happy to note that the Mighty Warriors have now had a meaningful and productive camp,” said Zvomuya.

Zvomuya said he was expecting Team Zimbabwe’s athletes to be highly competitive.

“I expect every team and athlete to be competitive. All the athletes that are going to Rio are going there through qualification. That means they are already in the elite league in their respective disciplines. I am confident that each athlete and team will give a good account of themselves,” said Zvomuya.

Zimbabwe have 31 athletes that have qualified for the Rio Games including the women’s football team — The Mighty Warriors.

In athletics they have six athletes — four long-distance runners — Wirimai Juwawo, Cuthbert Nyasango, Pardon Ndhlovu and Rutendo Nyahora. They will be joined by sprinters Gabriel Mvumvure (100m) and Tatenda Tsumba, who will compete in the 200m event.

Rowers Micheen Thornycroft and Peter Purcell-Gilpin have also qualified for the Games as well as Michael Nicholson for shooting.

In swimming they have seven-time Olympic medallist Kirsty Coventry and Sean Gunn.

Nicholson qualified for the Games in shooting while Camilla Kruger will represent Zimbabwe in equestrian and archery has Gavin Sutherland.

For the Mighty Warriors the final 18 players and four non-travelling players have been submitted from the 24-member squad that is currently in camp at Bindura University of Science and Education. But the names of those that have made it and those dropped have not been revealed.

Shadreck Mlauzi had called 25 players for the camp but Rufaro Machingura, who was excused at the beginning of the camp because she had chickenpox, could not make it and was the first to be officially out.

Mighty Warriors Squad:

Goalkeepers: Chido Dzingirai, Lindiwe Magwede, Vanesa Lunga.

Defenders: Nobuhle Majika, Sheila Makoto, Eunice Chibanda, Lynett Mutokuto, Patience Mujuru, Ruvimbo Mutyavaviri, Nobukhosi Ncube, Danai Bhobho.

Midfielders: Emmaculate Msipa, Daisy Kaitano, Talent Mandaza, Marjory Nyaumwe, Aldiglade Bhamu, Mavis Chirandu, Rejoice Kapfumvuti.

Strikers: Felistas Muzongondi, Rudo Neshamba, Erina Jeke, Samkelisiwe Zulu, Kudakwashe Basopo, Rutendo Makore.