Tokyo2020: Committee talks about financial reasons for underperformance

In statements to Lusa Agency, he considered that 99 percent of the blame for the unsatisfactory performance of the Angolan athletes is due to the late financial support provided by the Government, which made the funds available only at the end of June.

Regarding performances, he said that the female handball team aspired to at least the eighth place achieved in 2016 in Rio de Janeiro.

Swimming was better, as the swimmers Catarina Sousa and Salvador Gordo achieved marks close to Angola's records, but the same did not apply to athletics and judo, as they were considered to be the modalities whose expectations were far below.

He also regretted the fact that sprinter Bee Miguel Aveni did not compete due to the elimination, due to a false start.

After considering that the judoka Diassonema Neidy had a poor preparation at the highest level, pointing out the failure of the Angolan Olympic Committee, António Monteiro lamented the poor performance of the sailing team, caused by the late sending of the Angolan vessel to Tokyo, leading Angola to compete with another boat without quality.

The secretary general of the Angolan Olympic Committee understands that other financial alternatives must be urgently sought in order to meet current expenses.

The Olympic official also defended a change in the current paradigm in Angolan sport, to aspire to an Olympic 'metal', which he has never achieved, in the 10 Olympic presences: Moscow1980, Seoul1988, Barcelona1992, Atlanta1996, Sydney2000, Athens2004,2008, London2012, Rio2016 and Tokyo2020.