By ADRIAN MWANZA –
FINANCIAL constraints have stopped the highly promising Zambia relay team from taking part in the Tom Johns invitational relay in the United States of America (USA) which will be part of qualifiers for the Rio 2016 Olympic Games.
The team, which was supposed to leave for the USA at the weekend, could not travel due to logistical hitches and financial limitations.
Trainer Ralph Mouchbahani confirmed that the team could not go to the US for the competition, but that they would now focus on the Penn relay set for April 30 in the same country.
Mouchbahani said the team was expected to leave for the US tomorrow.
“I can assure you that we are definitely going to take part in the Penn relay which is on April 30 because for this one everything is already in place,” he said.
He said the team competed in the all-comers meet which took place at the Olympic Youth Development Centre in Lusaka at the weekend and was happy with their performance.
Zambia Amateur Athletics Association (ZAAA) president Elias Mpondela said modalities had been put in place for the team to take part in the Penn relay, a global event.
Mpondela said the team was in good shape and that their performance at the all-comers tournament indicated that they could win medals in the USA.
“I saw the US bound team during the all-comers meet and I can assure you that they are ready for the Penn relay. Funds are now in place and they will go for the Penn relay,” he said.
And NDINAWE SIMPELWE reports that ZAAA is engaging political parties for this year’s Inter-Company Relay (ICR) as a way of contributing to peaceful campaigns ahead of the August 11 general elections.
Mpondela said sport was the best avenue to diffuse violence and misunderstandings among political parties.
He said the association felt duty bound to contribute to creating peace in the country by bringing all political parties in one place to have fun.
“We have been building to try to diffuse the tension and the violence. You know this is an election year and we need to promote peace.
“The Inter-Company Relay is on this year and the theme is coined to promote peace ahead of the general elections,” Mpondela said.
He said the themes for the ICR normally reflected the happenings in the country, adding that ZAAA was well-placed to disseminate messages of positive campaigns before the polls.
This year’s theme is the same as last year’s, which is ‘Walk and run for your health towards peace and unity’.