DIRECTOR of Sport Bernard Nakachinda has urged sports associations to go back to the drawing board following the dismal performance of athletes at the just- ended All-Africa Games in Maputo.
Nakachinda was speaking at Lusaka International Airport on September 19 when he received a batch of athletes that returned home from Maputo.
The first contingent which arrived at 12:45 hours aboard a South African Airways flight comprised four netball players, tennis player Kombe Mabo and his coach Patrick Banda.
Nakachinda said Zambia’s performance has dwindled compared to the 2007 edition in Algeria.
“Last time, we managed at least 10 medals but we only managed three this time around. It is important that we go back to the drawing board to ensure we ably participate in the next edition,” he said.
The Zambia netball team won a bronze medal and so was judoka Esther Sandu with chess star Daniel Jere winning a silver medal in the individual category.
Nakachinda said both athletes and coaches have learnt from their mistakes and will rise to the occasion in future.He, however, congratulated the netball team on winning a medal.
And tennis coach Patrick Banda said his players put up a spirited performance despite being eliminated in the second round.
“They put up a good performance but our colleagues were probably more well prepared. Most of them play in very competitive leagues,” he said.
The other tennis player, Edgar Kazembe, was scheduled to arrive in the evening.
Zambia sent 59 athletes to Maputo.
[Zambia Daily Mail]
I bet the drawing board is worn out by now and needs to be replaced. It is the same story every time we take part in any competitive sport. My conclusion is that the problem is much deeper than we have been made to believe. It is time we started focussing on the next generation of sportsmen and not the current batch of under performers.
I wonder how many drawing boards we have to go back to. Problem pa Zed we nolonger take sports seriously, starting from Administrators to participants. Radical policies needed to change our miopic mind sets.
Here we go again….same story over and over! Quit blaming athletes. The problem is that there is no strategic vision and the sports policy in play is driven by people that have over stayed their usefulness. What new ideas are the likes of Mrs. Moyo going to bring to sport? This tendency of keeping people in positions they can’t fully fulfil is the only obstacle in our future sports development at all levels! Accountability is a huge issue together with the lack qualified and experienced people. Please play another record this one is boring! The entire ZOCAGA needs to be modernised. You lot are a disgrace!!! Zambia has talented athletes in many disciplines yet the lack leadership! Flying to Maputo…..eh? Why not go by road and save thousands to train the much need Coaches….???!
What do you expect? There are no sports facilities in the country and no sports equipment. There is no sport in schools. Sports grounds in schools have been turned into plots for teachers’ houses or other uses. And when the teams perform dismally, you say “drawing board.” What drawing board? This is sickening!