Luanda - The secretary of State for Sports, Teresa Ulundo, called Monday in Luanda Province for a spirit of sacrifice from the athletes of the National Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) Team, who from 27 May to 2 June, of this year will take part in the 7th African Championship (CAN) in Windhoek, Namibia.
The government official said that adopting such a stance will make it possible to revalidate the title won in the 2023 edition, at the Kilamba Multipurpose Centre in the capital Luanda.
Speaking at the handing over of the national flag, before travelling to the event, on behalf of the minister in charge, Rui Falcão, the secretary of State said she was convinced that the national team in the youth, junior and senior categories, both male and female, would be able to represent Angola's good name with dignity.
At the African Games in Luanda, the national team topped the general chart with 39 medals, 18 gold, 14 silver and seven bronze.
Regarding this achievement, Teresa Ulundo said that everything had been done to ensure Angola's presence at the African Games and consequently the revalidation of the title, without neglecting the spirit of fair play.
The group, made up of 70 athletes at youth, junior and senior level, worked for two months at the Academy (Olympus) in the Gamek neighbourhood.
The Angolan team is travelling to Namibia in stages. The first group leaves on Tuesday 21st, the second on Wednesday and the last on Friday.
The delegation is made up of by senior athletes Francisco Tchapaina, Adilson Serrão e Nivanio Novais, Mafuana Mbungo, Graciano Brecio e Pedro Pascoal, Afonso Vemba, Melson Prata, Adalberto Ntyamba, Leonardo Pascoal, Matias Monteiro, Clélio Diogo, Isaac Manuel, Cristiano Pedro, Pedro Calembele, Wilson Bombo, Tunhenda Daniel, Axel Augusto, Stanislau Wezzy, Joaquim Tchiteni, Mário Stefan, Anderson Correia, Mikilson Yoka, Elfran Marques, José Txambunga, Hélder Manuel, Nicklas Herlander, Maria Kitoco, Esperança Pereira, Gessimara Chupeta, Núria Miguel and Geovani Ludmila.
The junior athletes are Wilson Manuel, Afonso Nascimento, Américo Nguevulo (peso palha), Nkunga Vakanda, Edvalson Ginga, Ismael Domingos, José Simão, António Uquete, Paulo Mavinga Avelino das Neves, Jacinto José, Manaceu Nkonda, Ricardo Pireza, Dumilde Tchilala, Rafael Viegas, Renato Pireza, Gabriel Domingos, Maurício Fernando, Evandro Lisboa and Massano Mbinda.
Elizabeth Teixeira, Esmeralda Mbleum and Nilza Munhanhab (categoria de 47.7kg), Luhinga Santana and Indira Santana (52.1 kg), Daniela Mandijane and Isabel Ntyamba (56.7kg), Teresa Dias and Nadiar Vieira (61.2 kg) and Jeovane Bomguila (65.7 kg), are the youth category.
BSV/MC/MRA/jmc
