By FELIX MALUNGA –
THE Zambia Amateur Swimming Union (ZASU) has named a 31-member crack squad to compete at next week’s CANA Zone Three and Four Championships in Angola.
Team manager, Sophie Peach said ZASU was confident of reaping medals from Luanda and called on Zambians to rally behind the swimmers.
Peach said the team included experienced swimmers in Matthew Shone and Tilka Paljk, who participated at the 2014 Glasgow Commonwealth Games in Scotland.
Apart from the Commonwealth Games, Shone also swam at the World Championships in Doha, Qatar while Paljk competed at the Zone Six Championships.
She said the swimmers, who leave on Monday, would be heading to Angola in high spirits after recently causing ripples at the Zambia Invitational Gala held at the American International School (AIS) in Lusaka where 60 national records were broken.
The local swimmers also won several gold, silver and bronze medals.
“We have high hopes for medals this year and will endeavor as we always do to make Zambia proud and encourage Zambians to support us as we head out to Angola.
“Zambia will be going to Angola in high spirits after just recently making waves at the Zambian Invitational Gala at AIS in Lusaka. Zambian Swimmers broke 60 National Records and won numerous gold, silver and bronze medals,” Peach said in a statement released in Ndola yesterday.
The Angola-bound squad will be drilled by Ian Stephen and Tonia.
The female squad has Poppy Barr, Johanna Buys, Temwani Chibiya, Kopano Chipwayambokoma, Fleur Donker, Colleen Gander, Shannon Hassen, Jordana Latife and Kasia-Jai Lewis.
Others are Siona Maistrellis, Caitlyn Muller, Tilka Paljk, Mia Phiri, Illizane Pinfold, Sacha Pinfold and Francesca Valenza.
The boys’ squad has Brandon Hyslop, Altaaf Ismail, Riyaz Latife, Mapalo Mataka, Iain McDonald, Ross McDonald, Mutale Mulenga, Adam Pinfold, Antonie Rainsford, Brandon Rumball, Isam Sepetu, Matthew Shone, Mmbalo Sililo and Toby Wilson.