• ZAMBIA’S 200 metres runner, Abigail Sepiso displays the silver medal she won at the African Union Sports Commission Region Five Youth Games in Zimbabwe where she timed 25.16 seconds.

ZAMBIAN athletes wrapped up the 2014 international calendar on a high note, minting 27 medals at the just ended African Union Sports Commission (AUSC) Region Five Games that were staged in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe.
Ultimately, it was a worthy end to the year that many in the sports circles have described as successful, especially with the country minting a gold medal at the Nanjing youth Olympics through sprinter Sidney Siame.
The key to becoming someone who makes winning a normal course of action, is to adopt the mentality of a winner, a mentality that people, who achieve greatness, maintain consistently.
“Developing habits towards achieving mental toughness and a winning mentality will result in greatness and sports personalities must give themselves credit for good performance and strive for continual improvement,” Jason Selk, mental toughness in sports author recommends.
In Bulawayo, team Zambia showed a great deal of hunger for success and they excelled beyond expectation resulting into an admirable collection of medals.
However, prior to the Zimbabwe Games, this platform outlined critical areas that the Zambian contingent needed to embrace in order to shine and get back home triumphant, they did precisely as advised.
The characteristics that make a champion can be attained and developed by anyone who wants to excel in a sport.
The swimming team comprising Ralph Goveia, Alexandros Axiotis and Tilka Paljk, showed a positive mental attitude that kept them going despite falling out on their first day in the waters as they missed out on the medal bracket.
On account of the self-confidence, the trio bounced back to overcome the earlier failure to contribute five medals to country’s medal tally.
This display was all because of the positive attitude they embraced and it gave them courage to go all-out in search of glory.
Maintaining the ability of bouncing back and rebounding in the face of hardship, will see them reach greater heights in future competitions.
As is the case on most occasions, boxers continue to show consistency in winning medals for Zambia and they did so at the Zimbabwe Games.
Timothy Chiyesu struck gold in the lightweight category, Emmanuel Ngoma and Nkumbu Silungwe settled for withy Rabson Tembo winning bronze.
The pugilists have always had the desire to win and whenever they enter the ring, It takes courage to sacrifice, to stick to their game plan and the relentless pursuit of their goal when they come face-to-face with opponents.
With this happy ending to the year, the boxers must seek to repeat this success at the Africa championship next year. For those that won silver and bronze, gold should be their target.
To achieve this, they should make an effort each day to be the best and that calls for discipline.
Therefore, being steadfast is cardinal in remaining in shape for next year’s competitions.
Resilience can be referred to as the idea of focusing on one’s strengths and how their prowess can benefit the performance, optimism, vigor and self-determination.
None of the five Judokas that flew the country’s flag higher at the Games came back home empty handed.
Abigail Chindele and Mary Kanyemba won gold, David Chisenga scooped silver while Joshua Nyondo, Lungowe Chindele and Naomi Zungu picked up bronze.
The resilience displayed by the youngsters was a key component to their success and that of the country at large.
With 100 metres youth Olympics champion Sidney Siame leading the change, the runners contributed the most medals to the team, winning nine in total.
Of the 27 medals that Zambians claimed, seven were gold, six silver and 14 bronze.
This was no mean achievement for the Zambian contingent and they need to build on this success, come 2015.
Winning athletes know how to self-energise and work hard on a daily basis at this makes it easier for them to maintain consistency in training and in competing.
Regardless of the various challenges sports associations face in making it to high profile competitions, the athletes generate the most favorable amount of excitement and energy to do their best.
Building and maintaining a high level of self-motivation, is a learned skill that anyone can acquire and the self-belief is one of the most powerful sources of energy available to an athlete.
Now that the year is almost coming to an end, it will be important for individual athletes to look back and review their setbacks and successes of 2014. Doing so will help each one of them to approach the New Year with renewed vigor.
For now, I can only congratulate all the sports personalities in the country for a wonderful 2014. Compliments of the season!
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