By YVONNE SAKALA –
SIXTY-FOUR Armoured Regiment emerged overall winners of the 2014 Zambia Army First Infantry Brigade inter-unit athletics competition after beating seven other units that took part in a championship at the Olympic Youth Development Centre (OYDC) in Lusaka.
In the major units’ category, the 64 Armoured Regiment scooped the first prize after accumulating a total of 267 points in all track and field events and went home with a trophy and a certificate.
They were closely followed by Second Battalion Zambia Regiment (2-ZR) who got 242 points during the sports festival that took the whole day.
Fourth Battalion of Zambian Regiment (4-ZR) emerged third in the competition after amassing 235 points and walked away with a trophy and a certificate.
In the minor units category, honours went to First Infantry Brigade Headquarters who garnered 229 points and were followed by One-Signal Squadron (1-Sig SQN) who scored 205 points, leaving Central Ammunition Depot (C.A.D) and First Brigade workshops to settle for the third and fourth positions on 130 and 40 points, respectively.
And in the Groups Performance Category, 64 Armed Regiment was crowned champion in the men’s major unity category with 145 points and were followed by 2-ZR on 142 points while 4-ZR landed on the third position with 107 points.
In the women category 4-ZR won the first prize on 128 points and was closely pursued by Sixty-Four Armoured Regiment on 122 points with 2-ZR settling for the third position on 107 points.
And speaking at the prize presentation ceremony First-infantry Brigade Commander Brigadier General Martin Mumbi urged the soldiers to continue working hard to raise the standard of athletics in the country.
Mumbi said the just ended games were not just about competing to come up with a winner, but was to enhance and sustain physical and mental endurance in the military men and women.
“As you are aware, athletics is quiet paramount in the life of a soldier, all military personnel must remain physically fit at all times.
“I encourage all of you that took part in the competition to continue with the competitive spirit so that we can raise the quality and standard of athletics in the formation,” Mumbi said.
He congratulated the winners and commended the organisers of the competition for working tirelessly to ensure a successful hosting culminating into a happy ending of athletics.
And chief co-ordinator Sam Soko said the organising team was impressed with the turnout of the participants and that the top three in each category will represent Lusaka at the main Zambia Army championship slated for Kabwe next month.
“This competition was more like a selection process for us we want to come up with athletes that will take part in the main event that will be in Kabwe at Khohima Barracks I can say the turnout was overwhelming  and we look forward to the Kabwe event,” Soko said.