Luanda - The chairperson of the Angolan Table Tennis Federation (FATM), Manuel Morais, said Tuesday in Luanda that the country aims to qualify for the 2024 African Championship in Ethiopia during the Region 5 Championship to be held in the country’s capital, Luanda, from June 28 to 30.
Speaking to ANGOP about the preparations for the zonal competition in the country's capital, the FATM leader said Angola’s main goal is to be in the top two places to qualify for the continental competition, scheduled for October in Ethiopia.
According to Morais, Angola that participates for the 15th time in the regional competition aims to improve the second position obtained in Botswana in 2023. South Africa is the holder of the regional title.
Among the eight pre-registered countries, in addition to the host nation (10 players), the national teams of South Africa (8), Botswana (8) and Namibia (8) have made their participation official, and will begin arriving in the country's capital on June 27.
Zambia, Malawi, Zimbabwe and Eswatini did not proceed with their pre-registration by the deadline (15th), even after a three-day moratorium (18th), but their reinstatement will depend on the African organizing committee.
Manuel Morais pointed to actions aimed at attracting the largest number of spectators and motivating new talents to take up the sport. The competition is budgeted at 54 million Kwanzas, provided by the Ministry of Youth and Sports.
The national team made up of men's table tennis players Lisandro André, Domingos Manuel, Délcio Cassule, Roberto Fabiano and Luís Mudil arrived Wednesday, after a training camp in Portugal.
The women's team will be represented by Ruth Tavares, Isabel Albino, Eugénia Simões, Kaelane de Sousa and Jerusa Borges, coached by Manuel Pimenta.
The Angola women’s team won the Regional competition in 2015, while in other editions the team finished second, in both men and women categories beaten by South Africa. JAD/VAB/DAN/AMP
