I HAD wanted to dwell on Nkana’s decision to employ Bestone Chambeshi on a three-year-contract instead of giving Zeddy Saileti the chance to prove himself but will focus on the Commonwealth Games that got into full swing yesterday.
The organising committee of the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games needs a pat on the back for a wonderful job put in towards the organising event.
As Republican Vice-President Guy Scott observed when he visited the athletes prior to the Games kicking off, there is a lot Zambia can learn from the Scots in as far as organising a tournament of such a magnitude is concerned.
With Zambia bidding to host the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations as well as hosting its golden jubilee, there is need to start preparations way in advance to leave spectators wanting to see more.
Zambia has 43 athletes that will be battling for honours in the eight of the 17 sports disciplines on offer.
But I was rather taken aback by sentiments attributed to Sports Minister Chishimba Kambwili that it will be by the grace of God if Zambia won medals at the Games.
And it must be confusing and rather demoralising for athletes to hear Kambwili saying that he was psychologically prepared for the disappointment that awaits Zambia 2014 Games.
Confusing and demoralising in that there have been inconsistent statements from the able Minister of Sport who on June 20 gave the Times of Zambia a story saying there was no reason for failure to bring back medals as the Zambian team has been preparing for the Games for a long time.
“As a ministry, we take it that all the athletes are adequately prepared for the Commonwealth Games because we have provided the necessary support required and I think this time around, we have to mint medals.
Time is ripe for Zambia to shine at the Commonwealth stage and failure is not welcome under my reign. So all athletes must remain focused and compete favourably without fear or intimidation but for now, I expect all the teams to be doing final touches in their preparations,” Kambwili said in a story published on June 21.
But on Tuesday, Kambwili said he would have loved to see Zambian athletes bringing back medals but that it would only be possible through God’s grace because of inadequate preparations.
“I will not be disappointed if they come without medals because I am psychologically prepared. I don’t know about the rest of the country,” Kambwili said.
There is need to motivate the athletes even in the absence of the sports policy by ensuring we as a country reap something from the massive investment that has been put in sport.
Otherwise it would be a waste of money to be sending athletes knowing there would be no tangible result that will come out.
Well, till next week. Let’s enjoy the Glasgow Games and give the Zambian athletes the needed support, eliaschipepo@gmail.com