By CHATULA KAMPO –
SPORTS Minister, Chishimba Kambwili has warned that Government will no longer tolerate failure in all sports disciplines beginning next year.
Kambwili said no more excuses would be tolerated because Government was spending a lot of money on sports.
In an interview in Luanshya yesterday, Kambwili said Government had since increased funding to sports and therefore, he did not want to see a situation where Zambia would be failing to win accolades in 2014.
He said Government was next year expecting all sports disciplines to improve their performance as Zambia needed to occupy a lofty seat on the global sports map.
“My expectation for 2014 is that; we should improve from where we are to a greater heights. Otherwise, I will not take any excuse whatsoever in failing to win medals and coming out as victors in all the sports competitions the country will be taking part,” he said.
The minister, however, urged sports men and women in all disciplines to prepare adequately next year if they were to win the competitions.
He said Government had changed the National Sports Policy and that every organisation involved in sports activities would be assisted in trying to meet their obligations in both local and international events.
Kambwili said that was the reason why Government had increased the allocation of money to the associations that run sports in Zambia.
He said the money was no longer passing through the ministry but was given directly to the associations through the national governing body, the Sports Council of Zambia (SCZ).
Kambwili said this was being done to accord equal opportunities to all sports disciplines for their various programmes
“We have increased the allocation of money to the associations that run sports in the country. I instructed that money should be given to the association on a monthly basis,” he said.
He emphasised that there was need to put more effort in winning games as Government was committed in ensuring that sports associations were assist in achieving their assignment.
Zambian athletes will be competing in the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games and the Nanjing Youth Olympics.
The Zambia Under-17 women’s football team will also be making a historic appearance at the Costa Rica World Cup finals and there will also be several football qualifying matches for different age groups including regional competitions.
