By SHAMAOMA MUSONDA –
THE Sports Council of Zambia (SCZ) has rated the Zambia Squash Association (ZSA) as one of the best organised and hard working organisations under its umbrella.
SCZ board member Smart Mwitwa heaped the praises on the squash body when he was officially opening the 2014 Zambia Open Squash tournament in Lusaka at the Pamodzi Hotel fitness centre in Lusaka on Thursday.
Mwitwa said it was public knowledge that ZSA was not like other associations the SCZ had to deal with every year becauses of squabbles and a history of financial indiscipline.
He paid tribute to ZSA president Norena Chiteba, describing her as a person so loyal and dedicated to the game and its development.
“Squash these days is very attractive sport to the sponsors and this is so because it is very transparent and accountable for all the monies that come in. They also use it for the good of the sport like youth development,” he said.
Mwitwa said not many associations get such plaudits from the national supreme governing body and that this called from self praise from the squash community for electing a hard working executive committee.
He then challenged other associations to try placing women as their leaders so they get results as good as what was been seen in the squash family.
“Government has shown its trust in women as almost every woman MP is holding a ministerial position. It would be good to head that way as well for these associations and help in the development of sport,” he said.
He noted that the entire squash executive was hard working before ending his speech saying behind every success woman like Chiteba, there were hardworking men behind her.
Chiteba praised SCZ for its concern over the growth of sporting disciplines like squash and that it was such encouragement that pushed them on.
She described as a momentous occasion to be hosting the Zambia Open again after it went off the grid for four years.
The ZSA chief said the 2014 Zambia Open had been so attractive that it had managed to lure the nation’s best players both within and abroad as well as a few foreign players.
Chiteba also thanked Zimbabwe’s internationally certified referee Lucky Mlilo for gracing the tournament which will also have an international referees’ course.
