FIRST things first, I join others in congratulating the new Minister of Youth and Sport, Vincent Mwale on his appointment to a very challenging and demanding role. I believe that as the youngest Cabinet minister, Mwale has the zeal, passion and drive to not just fill this position left by Chishimba Kambwili, but to make a difference.
I say he must make a difference because, for a long time now, Zambia has seen many ministers of Youth and Sport come and go with, unfortunately, the tag or label of ‘minister of soccer’ emblazoned on their backs.
Why am I saying this? For a long time, sports associations from minor sports-boxing, tennis, volleyball, cricket, basketball, badminton to mention but a few, have generally not received the kind of financial support and backing that soccer has received at their expense.
The minor sports’ collective cry has been recognition of their existence and equity in the allocation of budget resources so that the ministry of sport could be seen as a “father for all” and, thereby, remove the (mis)perception of existing largely to oversee soccer development.
If there was any doubt about this perception, just look at the first thing the new minister has promised to address-the  long standing issue of non-payment of dues to former national team coach Dario Bonetti by the Football Association Zambia.
I am not suggesting that the minister is wrong to start with soccer; he has to start from somewhere, anyway. But what this does is reinforcing the long-held notion that come what may, soccer will always be number one.
This column has no argument with soccer’s unassailable first position, but would argue that, from a boxing point of view, there are critical issues that affect this sport which equally cry for priority of mention or attention.
Kambwili, for instance, started a very commendable project-opening a bank account for World Boxing Council (WBC) bantamweight champion Catherine Phiri in an effort to build her a house.
It is my considered view that this is one of those issues that should make the new minister’s priority list. I believe Kambwili, in his hand -over notes to Mwale, did not omit this matter inadvertently or otherwise. Again, there are other pressing issues that need attention as far as boxing is concerned.
The Zambia Professional Boxing and Wrestling Control Board (ZPBWCB) needs better funding. Its monthly grant is such a pittance and it’s laughable. Despite the poor funding, the ZPBWCB chaired by Nelson Sapi is on an upward trajectory and it can point to the production of world champions-Catherine, former champion Esther Phiri and WBC welterweight champion Charles Manyuchi as living proof of some of its successes.
I am aware the ZPBWCB has for years been urging the government to increase this grant by doubling or even quadrupling it to ease its operations. Who knows what the board can achieve with proper funding?
The story is no different for the Zambia Boxing Federation, the mother body for amateur boxing, funded through the National Sports Council of Zambia. Stories of failure to send boxing contingents to international competitions for a lack of sponsorship by government are not unusual.
This body also needs proper funding, too, as it is a nursery for professional boxing. Professional boxing will be dead without amateur boxing.
These same amateurs, for their part, have also won medals at international tournaments like the Commonwealth Games. Ben Muziyo brought a bronze from the Glasgow Commonwealth Games last year. At the 1974 Games in Christchurch, New Zealand, Lottie Mwale collected a gold medal as a light middleweight. The biggest medal haul by Zambia was from the 1978 Edmonton Games where John Sichula and Francis Musankabala won silver each as did Teddy Makofi and Enock Chama with bronze each.  Lucky Mutale reached the last eight.
So, as the new minister settles down, I hope he will find the time to start mulling over the funding of the two boxing bodies. Will he make a difference? Comments: mwale.simon@yahoo.co.uk / 0966 755 574/0953744074