.MWALE

By MWANGALA LISELI –

GOVERNMENT says it expects at least 16 medals from the judokas who will be representing Zambia at the forthcoming All Africa Games set for September in Congo Brazzaville.
Sports Minister, Vincent Mwale said his ministry was hoping for gold from the judokas who performed well at the regional, Southern African Union Sports Council Championship (SAUSCC) that took place in Swaziland recently.
Speaking when he officiated at the Zambia Judo Association (ZJA) luncheon sponsored by SOGECOA Zambia Limited in Lusaka on Wednesday, Mwale said he was pleased with the performance of the judokas at SAUSCC as they brought pride to the nation.
He said the performance had made the sport worthy of being selected to be among one of the three high-performance sports for a pilot African Union Sports Council Region Five Podium Performance Programme.
“Your performance at the just ended event has proved the Ministry right in selecting your sport as one of the three high performance sports chosen for pilot African Union Sports Council Region Five Podium Performance Programme. It is therefore my hope and trust that Zambia Judo will bring back 16 Gold medals from the 2015 11th edition African Games,” he said.
Mwale urged judo and other sports to always have strategic plans so as to be better in their performance.
ZJA president Alfred Foloko said he felt honored that Government recognised judo in the country by having the minister to officiate at such an event.
Foloko said sport needed to take place everyday as it offered millions of people opportunities in education, discipline, integration in society and a better life.
He commended the National Olympic Committee, Sports Council of Zambia and other partners for their support.
SEGOCOA Zambia Limited deputy general manager, Emily Ho said her organization would continue working with Government to develop sports in the nation.