. Mpondela

By Ndinawe Simpelwe –
ZAMBIA Amateur Athletics Association (ZAAA) president Elias Mpondela says his appointment to the IAAF is Zambia’s best opportunity to break international barriers in the sport.
Mpondela observed that there were three international sports bodies that every administrator has to aspire for which are FIFA, IOC and IAAF and his appoint to the commercial and marketing advisory group will create more opportunities for Zambia.
He said his appointment had come at the right time when ZAAA was working hard to grow the Inter-Company Relay (ICR), the association’s main source of income, adding that his interaction with global marketing agents will help him make the event bigger.
“This has put me on another level. I will be interacting and exchanging ideas with top marketers and commercial agents for IAAF. Surely how can I not utilise this chance for Zambia. We have the High Performance Youth Technical Center at OYDC, it needs funding for our young athletes to continue developing.
“This is an opportunity for me to learn a lot and develop ideas that can work back here at home not only for ZAAA but even other associations because remember I’m representing Zambia and I feel the knowledge I will gain and the opportunities I will have need to benefit even other associations,” Mpondela said.
He said it was important for associations to start exchanging ideas because all of them needed funds to continue running smoothly.
The IAAAF last week approved Mpondela’s appoint to the commercial and marketing advisory group committee for a term of four years.