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By Noah Silomba
Team Zambia has intensified preparations ahead of the U19 African Union Sports Council (AUSC) Region 5 Youth Games to be hosted by Lilongwe, Malawi.
Team Zambia’s Lilongwe Region 5 Games Chef de Mission Thandeka G. Soko during a meeting held on 14 September 2022 in Lusaka briefed technical directors, coaches and representatives of participating sports associations that a tour of facilities was conducted in Malawi recently.
During the meeting Soko indicated the need for discipline, dedication and commitment towards training if athletes are to come back home with medals for the nation.
She further disclosed that all athletes will undergo extensive scrutiny to avoid any age cheating which can be an embarrassment to Zambia at the games adding that government through the Ministry of Youth, Sports and Arts remains committed to see that the nation has a reputable team representation.
The Chef de Mission at the meeting was accompanied by her deputy Rhodah Goma and team manager Monica Lombe.
Meanwhile, technical directors and coaches who attended the meeting announced that athletes are currently training in readiness of the games.
Some of the sports disciplines to make up team Zambia for the games to take place in December include; football, basketball, taekwondo, swimming, judo, volleyball, tennis, boxing, athletics (including the virtually impaired), and netball.
Zambia once hosted the 5th edition of these games in 2012 when they were called the Supreme Council for Sport in Africa (SCSA) U20 Zone VI Youth Games now called the African Union Sports Council (AUSC) Region 5.
Members of the Region comprise of: Angola, Botswana, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, Eswatini formerly called Swaziland, Zambia and Zimbabwe.
Some athletes from Zambia who in the past participated in these games include but not limited to these; sprinters Sydney Siame, Daniel Mbewe, Suwilanji Mpondela, Niddy Minglishi, Kennedy Luchembe, boxers Patrick Chinyemba, Stephen Zimba, Everisto Mulenga, swimmer Tilka Paljk, Judokas Simon Zulu, Mathews Mwango among others.
The aim of the games is to use sports to achieve peace, integration and unity in Africa and use sport as a vehicle for encouraging people to develop and come together irrespective of colour, economic status, political inclination, class or gender. The Games bring together different people from all over southern Africa, who not only compete for medals but build lasting friendships, during and after the games.
