Podium Performance Programme Athletes get Covid-19 boost

NOAH SILOMBA writes ZAMBIAN athletes from three sports disciplines, namely, boxing, judo and athletics, received a donation of assorted items from various stakeholders aimed at enhancing their welfare during the Covid-19 partial lock down. The donated items include 30 bags of mealie meal from African Milling, K10,000 cash from Zambia Professional Cricketers Association, food hampers by Sport in Action through the KickOUTCOVID-19. The Ministry of Youth, Sport and Child Development also donated assorted sport equipment, food stuffs, Protective Equipment and sanitary products to the high performance athletes that are on the Podium Performance Programme. Ministry of Youth, Sport and Child Development Permanent Secretary, Joe Kapembwa, who represented Sports Minister Emmanuel Mulenga, presented the donated items to athletes. In a speech, the Minster said for sport to develop in the country, it needs key stakeholders to support athletes such as those who have made donations. He said that as the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games approach, sponsors and partners should come on board and provide the needed support towards the participation of Zambian athletes in the Olympic Games. Hon. Mulenga, encouraged athletes to work hard as they prepare to participate in the forthcoming prestigious Games so that they can come back home with medals. Athletes who were present to receive the donations on behalf of others include, Patrick Chinyemba (boxing) who qualified to the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games bound athlete, Steven Zimba (Judo) and HazembaChindamba (Athletics). The ceremony which was held at the Ministry of Youth, Sport and Child Development was witnessed by Director of Sport in the Ministry, Mr. John Zulu, National Sports Council of Zambia (NSCZ) Acting General Secretary, Raphael Mulenga, National Podium Performance Programme Coordinator, Sombwa Musunsa, Zambia Boxing Federation representative, Exodus Boxing Academy proprietor Anthony Mwamba, African Milling General Manager, Jomo Matululu, Zambia Professional Cricketers Association President, Kushal Jain and Sport In Action Representative, Kaluba Kampuni. Others are the Zambia Judo Federation General Secretary, Mr. Mabvuto Nguni and PPP Medical Committee Chairperson, Dr. Titus Fernando. The athletes who received the donations are part of the Ministry of Youth, Sport and Child Development Podium Performance Programme which aims at providing support and opportunities to Zambia’s high performance in Athletics, Boxing and Judo. The Sun