Zambia Amateur Athletics Association (ZAAA) says the poor performance by it’s athletes is as a result of the lack of investment in the sport.
Association President Elias Mpondela said government only invests in football and neglects other sports and therefore it is impossible for the athletes to bring forth the required results with no investment.
Mpondela said even when the government sends money to the Ministry of Sports, the association does not get a share of that money adding that the association has been calling for investment but there is insignificant or no investment at all in the sport.
Speaking in an interview with the Zambian Business Times – ZBT, Mpondela said the sport is neglected throughout and money is only invested in the association when it is time to go to the olympics.
Mpondela said more money should be spent on training, identifying skilled athletes and competitions before attending the olympic games and not when it is time to go to the olympics.
He said individuals are not capable of promoting sport to the level where athletes can emerge winners at olympic games adding that lack of investment cannot bring medals to the country.
“Funding is the biggest issue, government can come and audit us and see how much money they have given us during that period and they will see that they have given us nothing compared to what we have spent on our own”, he said.
“Samuel Matete qualified in the US, he lived in the US, even to qualify and to go and participate he was under the conditions that favour competition.In America they expose you to all that you need, Samuel Matete did not qualify here”, he said.
He said by failing to invest, the country is losing out as the pride of winning a medal is the pride that is globally recognised but unfortunately only football medals are considered bring pride to Zambia which should not be the case as all sports are important and bring in money.
“If you win at world championships in athletics you get 60, 000 US dollars, if you come second you win 40, 000 US dollars , if you come third you win 20, 000 us dollars, if you record a world record, you win another 100, 000 us dollars”, he said.
He said sports are not only social activities but economic activities too as they do not only market the country but also bring development, money and foreign exchange.
He said despite not bringing home any medals, the association goes to the olympics because they are a member of the global olympics and have to fulfill the fact that they are a member of the olympics.
He said the association appears at the commonwealth games because they are part of the common wealth countries.
He said lack of exposure to international competitions has also negatively affected athletes as they do not have a feel of what happens at these competitions.
He mentioned that Rhoda and Sydney arrived at the Tokyo five days before competing in the olympics which did not give them enough time to prepare compared to everyone else who went earlier.
Mpondela also mentioned that some individuals who were competing were wildcats and these were allowed to participate not because they were qualified but because they have the potential to become better sports persons in the future adding that these were invited to attend the olympics.
He noted that not everyone that attended the olympics was competing to win but some were wildcats who were invited in order to gain the needed exposure.
