. Mpondela

By Ndinawe Simpelwe –
ZAMBIA Amateur Athletics Association (ZAAA) president Elias Mpondela has been appointed in the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) Commercial and Marketing Advisory Group for a four-year tenure.
IAAF general secretary Jean Gracia in a letter of appointment confirmed that Mpondela’s appointment was approved by the Federations’ Council and was looking forward to his positive contributions together with other members who had been appointed.
Mpondela has up to April 8 to respond to the appointment whether he would take it up or not.
“It is my pleasure to inform you that the council has appointed you as a member of the Commercial and Marketing Advisory Group. You will find enclosed the current composition of your advisory group approved by the council,” the appointment letter read in part.
And in an interview on whether he will take up the position on not, Mpondela said he will take it up without hesitation because it was a big achievement not only for him but the whole country.
The ZAAA chief becomes the first Zambian to take up such a position at IAAF and he is one of the only two Africans on the group of 13 members together with Siddig Ibrahim of Sudan.
Mpondela said he was humbled to have his efforts recognised at the highest level of the sport, adding that the appointment was done because of his contribution to athletics.
He said he would ensure that he represents Zambia in the best way he could for the benefit of everyone and at the same time learn a lot from other group members.
He said he was excited to have been recognised by IAAF president Sebastian Cole and the entire council.
“These appointments don’t come by chance, it is recognition. It’s a great honour for Zambia, it’s not only for me. If you are now part of these big commercial deals, you are learning a lot and ZAAA won’t be the same because we share with our associations what we learn,” Mpondela said.
The appointment will come as good news for Mpondela and Zambia after he contested to be in the women’s committee but lost by two votes when he polled 90, which was the highest for an African candidate.
Mpondela will also sit on Marketing Committee of the Africa Commission for African athletics.