From ELIAS CHIPEPO  In Glasgow, Scotland –

THE Herriot Watt University, based in Scotland, has offered Zambia sports scholarships to help create a pool of qualified coaches in various sports fields.

University vice-chancellor Professor Steve Chapman said this when a Zambian delegation, led by Sports Permanent Secretary Agnes Musunga, visited the institution in Edinburgh in the week.

Chapman said his institution was ready to give Zambia the sports scholarships to enable the country build its human resource capacity in sport.

He said the scholarships would be greatly beneficial to Zambia as the coaches would get exposed to modern developments taking place in the world of sport.

Musunga said having qualified coaches would help Government cut down on expenses incurred in paying expatriates.

She said a lot of money was being spent on paying expatriate coaches and that it was Government’s plan to reduce such costs by ensuring Zambians get the needed qualifications.

Musunga said there was need to empower Zambian coaches with skills to enable them produce medal winning athletes at various international competitions.

“We want to ensure that we train as many Zambian coaches as possible as that will cut down on costs paying expatriate coaches. I am sure empowering our athletes will greatly help us produce medal winning athletes,” she said.

Musunga was accompanied by Sports Council of Zambia vice chairperson, Emmanuel Katebe and director of sports, Bessy Chelemu.

Herriot Watt University is a leading United Kingdom university for business and industry with an established reputation for world class teaching and pioneering research.

It also offers sports management courses.