SED encourages Mozambican athletes in the Commonwealth Games – Watch

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SED encourages Mozambican athletes in the Commonwealth Games – Watch

2:11 CAT | 29 Jul 2022

Photo: O País

The Secretary of State for Sports, Carlos Gilberto Mendes, encouraged Mozambican athletes representing the country at the Commonwealth Games, which started yesterday in Birmingham, United Kingdom.

The Mozambican official, who joined the Mozambican delegation this week, found time on Wednesday to interact with Mozambican athletes of the five modalities in which the country will be represented in one of the most representative sporting events in the world.

Gilberto Mendes encouraged the athletes, noting that all Mozambicans will be following their performance, which should be a motivating element for them.

Mendes explained to the athletes that they are not alone, that they count on the support of the 30 million Mozambicans and not just of the officials of the delegation in Birmingham.

“I came to give you encouragement and incentives so that you can go all out in this competition, because you have the quality to do so,” Mendes said.

Given the recent performance of some athletes in international events, such as boxers Alcinda Panguane and Rady Gramane, who recently won silver and bronze medals respectively in the world championship, there are challenges, but still the possibility of winning medals.

“Work seriously, because your opponents already know you and respect you. Now, you must face your opponents with humility,” Mendes challenged them.

In addition to monitoring the participation of Mozambican athletes in the games, Gilberto Mendes participated in the General Assembly of the Commonwealth Games organisation, highlighting the importance and role of sport in preserving health, in addition to the need to increase investment in sport.

The Secretary of State for Sports explained the lines of force that guided the general assembly. “One of the final decisions of this meeting that interests Mozambique is the need to increase investments in sports, to make sports a very important area for the development of society,” he explained.

Lurdes Mutola interacts with athletes

The Mozambican athletes taking part in the Commonwealth Games enjoyed special visit on Wednesday by Maria de Lurdes Mutola, the most-awarded Mozambican athlete in living memory.

On the eve of the start of the competition, the 800 metres Olympic champion revived her memory to talk about her experience as a high-level athlete, as a way of encouraging athletes to give their best in Birmingham.

Having won two gold medals at the Commonwealth Games, Mutola spoke of her participation in this competition, explaining that athletes need not despair whenever things don’t go well.

Mozambique starts competing this Friday

The boxing matches and the dates and times of the tests of the five modalities with which Mozambique participates in the XXII edition of the Commonwealth Games, Birmingham 2022, have already been announced.

Swimmers Alicia Mateus, Caio Lobo and Matthew Lawrence, will be the first to compete, this Friday, the first day of competitions, on the same day that Duncan Wayness will compete in the triathlon event. While in swimming there are elimination rounds, the triathlon goes straight to the final followed immediately by the awarding of medals.

On the second day of competitions, it will be the turn of Alicia Mateus and Caio Lobo to enter the scene, again for the swimming competitions, which will take place until the 4th of August, when all the winners of all categories will be announced.

Judo, represented by Jacira Ferreira, Mauro Nassone and Narcísio Matos, only enters the scene on the 1st and 2nd of August, with competitions that will be played throughout the day.

Athletics qualifying on the 2nd to 4th of August will establish if athletes Alex Macuácua, Édio Mussacate and Ancha Mandlate go through to the semi-finals and then to the finals.

Finally, in boxing, where the greatest hopes for medals reside, Mozambique starts competing on Sunday, July 31, with the first fight of Helena Ismael Bagão, in the 48-50kg category, who will face the Indian Zarren Nikhat. The winner of this fight will face Helen Jones, exempt from the first fight.

The remaining Mozambican boxers only enter the scene in the quarter-finals, with Tiago Muxanga making his debut in the competition, against the winner of the first round match between Cameroonian Albert Mengue Ayissi and Scotsman Stephen Newns. If he wins his match, Muxanga will get at least a bronze medal.

Alcinda Panguane and Rady Gramane will only enter the ring on August 3, also in the quarter-finals. Alcinda Panguane, silver medallist at the world championships in Turkey, waits for the winner of the fight between the Cameroonian Clotilde Essiane and the bearded Kimberly Gittens, in the 66-70 kg category.

In turn, Rady Gramane, who will compete in the 70-75 kg category, will face the winner of the match between Ornela Sathood (Ghana) and Kerry Davis (England).

The last Mozambican boxer to enter the ring will be Armando Sigaúque, in the 51-54 kg category, who will face James Dylan Eagleson, from Northern Ireland, also exempt from the first round.

Boxers who win their matches in the quarter-finals are guaranteed at least a bronze medal.

By Ibraimo Assamo

Source: O País / Lance Moz