Thursday, March 28, 2024

Matete not worried about Golden Jubilee medal snub

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Former Commonwealth, Olympic silver medalist and World 400 meters hurdles champion Samuel Matete has remained calm despite being snubbed when Government honoured sports personalities during the 50th Independence Anniversary celebrations.

Matete was conspicuously missing from the list of several sports personalities Government honoured with the first ever Special Single Class Golden Jubilee medal for contributing to the development of sports in the country.

“I am not moved. Remember I have been honoured by our Government before. Our late President Levy Mwanawasa gave me a meritorious award and the late President Fredrick Chiluba invited me to State House,” he said.

Matete won a gold medal at the 1991 World Championships and was twice silver medalist at the same event.

“Every Zambian and our Government have knowledge of what I have achieved,” said the three-time World Cup winner.

Matete won a silver medal at the 1996 Olympics and gold at the 1994 Commonwealth Games.

“Personally, I thank Government for honouring our sports men and women,” he said.

19 COMMENTS

    • Matete you are missed out because you never won an Olympic gold, most of your titles I could have won them blindfolded if i were allowed to compete in them.

      The Government of president sata is not one you can dupe anyone above. Anyway I wish you well but I believe this Government made a noble correct decision. They weighed your contribution and perceived it inferior to other gallants.

      Thanks

  1. I remember the pride I felt watching Samuel Matete run. He will always be a hero.Why did the PF government not honour him?

  2. The man was honoured by previous governments…. “Remember I have been honoured by our Government before. Our late President Levy Mwanawasa gave me a meritorious award and the late President Fredrick Chiluba invited me to State House”, he said. Therefore it is not correct to suggest that he was snubbed! The question is should every government include Matete on its honours list?

    • @Kano, the fact that previous Governments recognized him does not preclude the need to give him a golden jubilee medal. Remember that the list published by government included several people, who had been honoured before (including Kalusha).

    • Thank you Mop. This is the 50 year commemoration. There is no way you can ignore the only man who gave you a world title in athletics or any sport at that unless you are a BUFFOON like Kambwili

  3. This was obviously orchestrated by Mpondela and team, who deliberately left out Matete’s name from the list of track and field heroes that were worth recognizing. Government received recommendations from the various sports mother bodies.

    • No i dont think Mpondela has anything to do with this. It is Kambwili who cant think but is given a ministry to run

  4. How did they leave out Samuel Matete? We are talking about 50 years after Independence, mention any team or individual who has won a gold medal or silver medal at world champioship in the last 50 years apart from Samuel Matete? Hon Kambwili, National Sports Council and ZAA,,,you got it wrong, He deserved to be honoured if anything no other sports man or woman deserved it more than Samuel.

    • Chama, I’m 100% with every sentence of your posting above.
      These people cannot recognise something simple like this, & we live in hope they will recognise, & prioritise areas for development in our nation? I despair!

  5. MATETE SHOULD HAVE BEEN HONOURED FULL STOP!!!
    Imwe’ Ba Kambwili, You call yourself A SPORTS MINISTER, & you don’t even appreciate, or recognise what Matete has done for Zambian sport??? SHAMEFUL!
    Maybe You were Not happy, you weren’t nominated for You services to Street Fighting against Football Refs, University Students, & many who’ve found themselves at the wrong end of your “Street, & NOT Freedom fighting Fist’s”

  6. Was Samuel Zoom Ndhlovu honoured? What about Moses Simwala, Kapambwe Mulenga, Peter Kaumba, Willie Phiri?

    Why did they not honour Yotamu Muleya? We had the simunyola brothers who excelled in Tennis. Were they honoured a all? no! What about Fordson Kabole? James Njengela?

    Lets not honour ifi makula
    Lets be real

  7. The Only World Champion we have ever had in 50 years!! And government ignores him on our 50 year Jubilee celebrations!! Thats the kind of farts we have for ministers like Kambwili. FIRE KAMBWILI!!!!!!!!! A Lungu please chichoseni nchito ichi chi Kambwili akaliyobwela Sata

  8. Di he really deserve any honor? Am not too sure how Zambia was impacted by his participation in the sport. Secondly, if you are not moved, why are you commenting? Just keep quiet like many respectable personalities have done. No one so far has complained that you have been left. You seem to be trying to make a hurricane from a tea cup. If it were the Jamaican sprinter Bot saying that it would have made a lot of sense, not you. Find something to do in your retirement.

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