SA Not To Participate at the 2017 European Championships
South Africa will not be participating at the upcoming 2017 IMMAF European Championships. A recent Press Release by IMMAF announced that 151 amateur athletes from 28 countries have registered to compete at event. South Africa was not listed among those.
This is the second time in a row where South Africa shows little to no participation at IMMAF events held internationally. At the previous IMMAF events held in Prague, only Riyaad Pandy represented South Africa internationally.
Team captain, Stephen May, said that athletes have to fund their own expenses when it comes to participating at those events. "As far as I know, Team SA receives no money from SASCOC or the Department of Sports and Recreation," said May. He added that the current state of the Rand as well is not favourable for international travel.
May said that since IMMAF participants are amateur fighters, they still have to work full time in order to sustain themselves. "None of the athletes was able to generate the funds or get the necessary leave from their employers or varsity for the European Open," explained May. However, the team Captain confirmed that they have strated training camps and strategic session for the World Championship and the Asian Open.
The teams that were announced by IMMAF to participate at the European Open Championship includes the Top Ranked Sweden, with DRC being among the countries that will be participating for the first time ubnde the IMMAF banner.
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