Luanda - The Angola Mixed Martial Arts Federation (FAMMA) has withdrawn the national team from the African Games, which will run until the 23rd of March in Accra, Ghana, due to the lack of transparency on the part of the Global Association of Mixed Martial Arts (GAMMA), the entity hired by the organising committee to manage the tournament, said Tuesday in Luanda Province the chairman of the Angolan Federation of Mixed Martial Arts (FAMMA), Armando Diogo.
At a press conference, he said that he was unaware of the suitability of GAMMA, as it is not affiliated to the International Mixed Martial Arts Federation (IMMAF) or the Africa Mixed Martial Arts Confederation (AMMAC).
The reason for the decision, according to the sport leader, is that the event's regulations provide for joint competitions between federated and amateur athletes, contrary to international stipulations.
He went on to explain that as soon as the head of the caravan, FAMMA secretary-general José Gomes, came across this situation, he immediately informed the higher authorities who advised Angola to preserve the integrity of its fighters.
"The fact is that amateur athletes, such as the Angolans, were paired with professionals, contrary to the principles that govern the sport", he reiterated.
To demonstrate the disorganisation to which he referred, Armando Diogo mentioned as an example the fact that 13-year-old Stélvia Munhanha, world junior champion (44kg), had been paired with a senior opponent from the professional class.
He explained that, given the scenario, together with the coordinator of the Angolan mission to the event, António da Luz, the federation withdrew its competitors from the competition.
In order to clarify what happened, according to the source, a meeting will be held on Saturday between the host country and the games' organising committee, with the presence of FAMMA President Armando Diogo.
Stélvia Munhanha -44kg, Daniela Mandanji -52.2 kg, Lassaleth António -61.2 kg, Maria Kitoco -70.3 kg, Wilson Manuel -56.3 kg, Tulunda Miguel -70.1 kg, Stanislau Wezy -83.9 kg and Mário de Melo -93 kg, are the National Team athletes.
BSV/MC/MRA/jmc
