Zambian music artist Tbwoy has thrown his support behind celebrated sprinter Muzala Samukonga after the Olympic medallist publicly raised concerns over the state of leadership and athlete welfare in Zambian athletics.
Tbwoy, who is based in the United States, reshared Samukonga’s statement on social media and commended the sprinter for bringing what he described as a critical issue into the public spotlight.
Samukonga recently criticised the leadership of Zambia Athletics, arguing that athletes should not be forced to personally finance expenses associated with representing the country on national duty.
In his post, the sprinter questioned how Zambia could expect to develop champions and win medals when athletes are allegedly being asked to pay for expenses such as air tickets while representing the nation.
Tbwoy said he agreed with Samukonga’s concerns and argued that the financial difficulties faced by athletes in Zambia are part of a wider problem affecting sportsmen and women who do not have formal employment.
“I commend you for bringing this critical issue to light,” Tbwoy wrote in his response.
He went on to argue that sportsmen and women in Zambia can often only find financial stability when they are employed by institutions such as the military or police, while independent athletes face significant challenges.
According to Tbwoy, Samukonga’s decision to speak publicly about his experiences should not be dismissed simply because some people believe athletes should use “proper channels” to raise their concerns.
He argued that athletes who have previously attempted to address similar concerns through established channels may have felt that those efforts produced little change.
Tbwoy said making such issues public allows the wider public to understand what athletes experience behind the scenes.
The musician also used Jamaican sprint legend Usain Bolt as an example of the financial possibilities that can come with success in athletics.
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He pointed out that Bolt became one of the world’s most commercially successful athletes through his performances on the track and argued that athletes who achieve at the highest level should be able to see meaningful support and financial returns from their careers.
Tbwoy further warned against attempts to silence athletes who speak about challenges within the sporting system.
“When people attempt to silence you, they are not just suppressing your potential; they are silencing every athlete who will come after you,” he said.
His comments add another voice to the growing conversation around athlete welfare, funding and sports administration in Zambia.
Samukonga has established himself as one of Zambia’s leading sprinters and has represented the country on some of the biggest international stages. His decision to publicly question aspects of athletics administration has therefore generated significant discussion among sports followers and other Zambians.
The debate also touches on a broader question facing Zambian sport: how can the country consistently produce international champions if athletes have to overcome significant financial challenges simply to compete?
For Tbwoy, the answer requires greater attention to the welfare of athletes and stronger systems capable of supporting sporting talent.
His intervention is likely to add further pressure to the ongoing discussion about the direction of athletics in Zambia and whether athletes are receiving the support they need to compete at the highest level.
As the conversation continues, attention is likely to remain on Zambia Athletics and other stakeholders in the country’s sporting sector to address concerns raised by athletes and ensure that representing Zambia comes with adequate institutional support.
For Samukonga and those supporting his position, the argument is ultimately about more than one athlete.
It is about creating a sporting environment where talented young Zambians can concentrate on becoming champions without being held back by financial challenges that they believe should be addressed by the institutions responsible for supporting national sport.
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