UNLOCKING potential in an athlete is one of the most difficult undertakings in sports circles and like a mirage, without the influence of role models.
I would imagine that, for most people, a mentor would come in the form of a teacher, a family member or a colleague. However, for most young people, this mentor comes in the form of a top athlete or veterans.
Having the likes of Edgar Kazembe around in their respective sports may sound awkward and retrogressive especially if one considers the future prospects but the truth is veterans are as important as the offshoots of talent.
Kazembe can inspire a number of young tennis players to aspire higher; same applies to ex-boxer Kennedy Kanyanta.
Veterans or top athletes provide guidance and support to young sports personalities as they overcome personal challenges and recognize the sporting potential they possess in order to excel.
Having a mentor in sports is inspiring because they act as mentors and use their own experiences to help boost players’ confidence.
In any sporting activity, fans have a player, or a coach they admire, and aspire to be like. Some may even have a series of people they consider as role models across a range of sports.
The impact of having a role model is that one may look upon that successful athlete as a way to improve their own performance and to a greater extent; they might even apply their idol’s behaviors to their everyday life.
It would be nice to think any success an athlete achieves is done so by developing their own way of doing things.
Yes, there have been and there are still innovators, people who take their sport to a new level.
For instance, the Marseille Turn, also known as the 360, the Roulette, and the double drag back, is a specialized dribbling skill unique to the game of football which soccer greats Diego Maradona of Argentina and Frenchman Zinedine Zidane are arguably the models of the move, thus it has come to be known as the Maradona turn or Zidane turn.
A number of other famous footballers, who include Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo, Thierry Henry and Alessandro Del Piero among others, have used the move with superb precision.
Without role models, how else are athletes going to improve? If someone is part of a team, or competes individually at a high level, then they may receive technical advice and feedback from a coach.
A coach themselves can be seen as a role model, particularly so because their understanding of their chosen sport should be excellent.
Some people struggle to improve their performance in their chosen sport and this could arise from lack of guidance or someone to look up to in terms of execution.
This is exactly why having a role model or a number of role models is a positive step to take for an athlete. Role models can provide athletes with the much needed help to make then necessary improvements in their performance.
Kazembe has achieved a lot in tennis by Zambian standards just like Kanyanta has done in boxing circles and if someone used the two veterans as role models to inspire them, it can definitely result in personal development, particularly when there is little help from other people around them.
Some may argue that, to adopt other people’s performance traits requires an initial in-depth understanding of the sport one is involved in, but by watching someone regularly, one can generally become aware of their ways without always realising.
An uninspired athlete can get to the extent where, after a run of poor results, they feel the only solution seems to be to call it a day and move on.
However, one must become more interested in the psychological side of sport, and how elite performers react mentally to winning and losing.
It appeared to this author that, people who are continually successful in their sports, for example, Youth Olympic gold medalist Sidney Siame, treat winning in the same way.
The initial feeling appears to be one of excitement, and they clearly enjoy that moment when they know they have reached the pinnacle of their game, yet they are also aware that they can continue to achieve more, and quickly refocus their minds on their next goal.
Yet, the best in sport also look at losing the same way. Yes they might be disappointed, yes they might question why things went wrong, but they also conduct themselves with great dignity and, again, look forward to achieving their next goal.
After all, when ever did the great Kalusha Bwalya take the sulk after defeat in any tournament? The fact that Kalu, as Zambia soccer team captain never apportioned blame on any of his teammates whenever the Chipolopolo lost make him different from the likes of Rainford Kalaba, equally a talented player.
Kalaba didn’t handle Zambia’s elimination for the 2015 AFCON well as he heaped blame on his teammates. It is difficult for an athlete to attain a level of success in their sports if they don’t handle defeats well.
If an athlete takes the psychological traits of the top athletes, and adapt them into their own game, then one would guess that rapid improvements would be made.
A role model doesn’t need to be a top performer; it could just be someone at a local club that one plays alongside. As long as they help in shaping up an athlete’s skills to get better, they are indeed role models.
Therefore, it could be exceedingly important if athletes in the country begin to embrace the idea of having role models for the sole reason that has already been articulated in this article.
Every sport in Zambia has individuals who strived to take it to another level through outstanding performances and unique skills.
Many role models or veterans have dealt with challenging circumstances themselves and sharing these experiences, and how they got through them, can be very empowering top aspiring athletes.
For comments: moseschimfwembe@gmail.com