I WOULD like to commend the Zambian junior athletes for minting medals at the ongoing Africa Union Sports Council (AUSC) Region Five Games in Zimbabwe after winning various medals.
It was gratifying that all the six judokas who were picked won medals same for the four boxers who equally bagged silverware including the runners and Joseph Siame who got gold in high jump.
The athletes I am referring to are Abigail Chindele and Mary Kanyemba who won gold, David Chisenga minted silver while the rest of the judokas in Joshua Nyondo, Lungowe Chindele and Naomi Zungu picked up bronze.
In boxing, Timothy Chiyesu struck gold in the lightweight category but Emmanuel Ngoma had to settle for silver after losing his bantamweight final bout and Nkumbu Silungwe while Rabson Tembo had already won bronze.
Sydney Siame, the Youth Olympics champion, picked up silver with Brian Kasinda getting bronze, while female runner Marjory Chisenga got bronze but there was joy in high jump where Joseph minted gold.
The performance by these athletes needs to be commended though I feel sending a bigger contingent to the Games in Bulawayo would have greatly helped us expose these upstarts ahead of the various future competitions.
With due respect to football where the team gets one medal when they win, we should also start promoting individual sports, going by the performance of the judokas, boxers and runners including swimmers.
One can imagine how many more medals we would have won had we sent a bigger group to the games after the entire team of six judokas and four boxers won us 10 medals.
Commendation should also go to the various sports associations for ensuring that the athletes were well prepared for this tournament which is helping to shape them for the future.
It is hoped that the athletes will have steady progression in their careers by building on the performances from such competitions so that they can one day represent the country at major tournaments like the Olympics, Commonwealth and All Africa Games where winning medals still remains a challenge.
One brilliant idea that was started by the Ministry of Sports in 2011 spearheaded by former sports permanent secretary Teddy Mulonga was hosting of the national youth festival.
But it seems to have died a natural death.
Such competitions would be vital to help keep youngsters in shape before sending them for international competitions.
With mostly madalas dominating most sporting disciplines, time for the young and vibrant athletes with the hunger to win success has come and it is hoped they will be given the chance to showcase their skills and win Zambia more medals.
Wishing the athletes all the best as they continue their medal hunt at the Games.
Have a wonderful sporting weekend: eliaschipepo@gmail.com