MAPUTO - Ana Flavia de Azinheira has been appointed deputy Minister of Sports of the newly elected Government of Mozambique.

An established veterinary doctor in the capital city of Maputo, Ana Flavia will report to the Minister of Sports Alberto Nkutumula, a former deputy minister of Justice.

The appointment of the Mozambican national team player - who last played for her country at last summer's FIBA World Championship for Women in Turkey - came as no surprise, given her regular and continuing engagement with local communities and solidarity causes in the country.

"I may not know the Ministry just yet, but I have been involved in sports for the past 25 years [of my life], and I know what it means lacking adequate conditions [to do sports]," she told the local media on Monday during the inauguration of the new Government.

Ana Flavia, who turns 38 next month, is yet to make a public announcement about her future with the national team but has indicated she intends on spending time working for the future of sports in the country.

"I am anxious to get started [in my new position]. I will work extremely hard to promote the development of sports in our country," she vowed.

"We need to build more infrastructures, accomplish results, and, above all, we need more internal competitions in order to promote our country to the world."

While track and field star Maria de Lurdes Mutola is one of Mozambique's most celebrated athletes, the team that competed at Turkey 2014 last summer made history in being the country's first national side to participate in a world championship level event.

Ana Flavia said: "We need all Mozambicans to come together. Everyone, men and women, need to get involved with their ideas and problems, and we'll resolve them together."

With four AfroBasket Women appearances under her belt, the 1.84 power forward argues that a spirit of togetherness could make a difference in Mozambique sports.

"The Ministry of Sports faces various challenges. We have a lot to improve on in the grassroots, [in terms of] encouraging our youth and searching for new talents."

It is time to step up sports in the country, argues Ana Flavia.

FIBA