Teqball body ‘masks’ Lusaka Tigers

MUKWIMA CHILALA writes  THE newest kid on the block has joined other sports federations in supporting the community fight against the spread of Covid-19, as the Teqball Federation of Zambia yesterday launched the distribution of 10,000 face masks to sports teams in Lusaka’s Matero area. Lusaka Tigers football club are the first beneficiaries having received 500 masks. The Teqball Federation of Zambia President Dickson Jere said the masks are meant to be used by players and officials at the club. Speaking at the handover ceremony at Matero Stadium, Mr Jere disclosed that the Lusaka Tigers’ home ground would house the first professional Teqball club in Zambia. He disclosed that in the federation’s quest to contribute to the fight against COVID-19, his sports body decided to donate 10,000 facemasks in Matero to be distributed to various sports teams. He said that the first batch of 500 masks was given to Lusaka Tigers and later other teams would also have a share of the 10 000 protectivewear. “For now we need to focus on training, we need to train more coaches so that they can understand the rules and understand how the game is played,” he said. “So far we are doing well from those we trained from the initial group, we need to move to a second group so that they become the trainer of trainers. The top 15 teams will be provided with the tables and other technical support from me.” “Now that sport activities are suspended, due to coronavirus, we thought that we cannot sit back and wait until the ban is lifted, so as a gesture from the Teqball Federation, we have decided to launch a programme to fight coronavirus by donating 10,000 face masks in Matero,” Jere said. “These reusable masks will be given to football teams, boxers and other sports disciplines in Matero and as a way to launch the 10,000 distribution of face masks we have decided to start with Lusaka Tigers where we have donated 500 masks, chairman (Colonel Teddy Njovu). We hope that you are going to use these players to also distribute to their families.” And Jere said that he was happy that most Soccer teams had expressed interest in starting Teqball teams alongside their soccer teams. “I am glad that most defence teams have shown interest in forming teams and starting the league, it is a good sport and we are looking at starting with 15 teams as soon as this Corona thing ends,” Jere said. And in thanking the Teqball federation, Lusaka Tigers chairman Teddy Njovu the gesture would go along way in helping prevent the COVID-19 virus. “Tigers is a community team sponsored by the people of Matero as a community, such gesture of 500 masks will go a long way to the players and their families will benefit,” Njovu said. Jere was in the company of OYDC Zambia Chief Executive Officer Fred Chitangala and NOCZ President Alfred Foloko. The Sun