Team “Take Money” encounters visa challenges, take...

Team “Take Money” encounters visa challenges, takes-off late

**Time is not on our side**… “Take Money” (L) with Melanie Musonda at a press event

Gilbert Munetsi

The delays experienced in the acquisition of visas by Team “Take Money” has resulted in the change of their travelling schedule, making it uncertain whether they will arrive at the final destination, Chihuahua in Mexico, in time for the match.

Kudakwashe Chiwandire is billed to fight Mexican champion Yemileth Mercado for the World Boxing Council super-bantamweight title earlier pencilled in for March 18.

While the contingent – comprising a manager, two coaches, a marketing representative and an anchor sponsor – was expected to depart South Africa Tuesday night via Paris, France, the delegation was only able to secure visas from the Mexican Consulate in Pretoria late Wednesday.

That, owing to the options at hand, now means they have to change their route and travel via Amsterdam aboard a KLM Royal Dutch Airlines flight, KL0592, that gets them to the Netherlands on Thursday at 10:15am.

“We will arrive at Amsterdam-Schiphol Airport, Amsterdam, Thursday morning and then leave at 2:30pm the same day headed for Juarez Int'l Airport, Mexico City, where we are due to land at 7:35PM.

“We're yet to be furnished with the connection details regarding the movement from Mexico City to Chihuahua which is the hosting city and State,” Eric Kandiwa, the marketing manager for Delta Force Boxing Academy, said in an update.

While indications from the contract are to the effect that the boxer should have arrived in Mexico at least six days before the contest, it remains to be seen whether the sanction body, WBC, gives the match a thumps-up or pushes it to another date.

Apparently, Mexico is where the WBC is headquartered and the world boxing regulatory organisation reputed for its strictness when it comes to matters of logistics and perfection.

“We will just go back to the contract which states that we’ve got to be in Mexico six days before the fight. This challenge of visas is something that was supposed to have been sorted out a long time ago, but the promoter failed to send us required documents in time for us to do them. As if that was not enough, some of the documents he sent to us were all rejected and those that were eventually accepted are the ones he sent today, Wednesday, at 1am,” said Clyde Musonda, the boxer’s manager.

Pertaining to the way forward, marketing manager Kandiwa said their top priority remained to ensure that the core team travelled to Mexico as soon as possible.

“All other discussions around the logistics of this historic bout will be tabled while the team is on the ground there. We do not want to adopt a position that may be perceived as a bad faith negotiation stance.

“It is our cognition that it is the best course for all concerned parties to have an in-person round table before any other conclusive position is prematurely adopted and announced.

“As previously mentioned, our highest priority remains the insurance of our athletes' health, prior to and post the event guaranteeing that they are in the best position possible to perform.

“That and the safe-guarding of their best interests. We are cognisant of the fact that at this level Ms Chiwandire is not only Zimbabwe's champion but Africa's champion as she is the only female African boxer holding the prestigious WBC world title. In that regard we assure you that no decision will be adopted and executed in lackadaisical fashion.”