Luena — The Angolan minister of Youths and Sports, Gonçalves Manuel Muandumba, on Saturday in Luena said that military sport plays a pedagogic and social role in the reinforcement of national unity and identity.

According to the minister, who was speaking at the opening ceremony of the 5th Military Games of the Angolan Armed Forces (FAA), taking place in Luena City (eastern Moxico Province), sports brings people closer regardless of their age, social origin, ideological and religious convictions, as well as the ethnic groups.

To the government official, sport activity contributes not only to the strengthening of democratic life, but also transmits civic and cultural values in filling the free time of the young military people.

Gonçalves Muandumba underlined that the military sport has always been regarded as an important activity that leads to the physical and intellectual development of FAA combatants.

The 5th Military Games of the Angolan Armed Forces (FAA) are taking place under the motto "Let us spread sport and culture in the FAA, preserving peace and national unity", and are involving the three branches, namely Ai9r Force, Navy and Army.

The event includes sports like five-a-side soccer, basketball, handball, athletics, hurdles race, triathlon, chess, boxing and karate.

The opening ceremony was also attended by the Defence minister Kundi Paihama, the governor of Moxico, João Ernesto dos Santos "Liberdade", the minister of Family and Promotion of Women, Genoveva da Conceição Lino, as well as the Staff chiefs of the Armed Forces of Namibia and São Tomé e Príncipe, among other personalities