By Noah Silomba
Team Zambia athletes bound for the African Union Sports Council (AUSC) Region 5 Games have been urged to work hard as they prepare to travel to Malawi.
Team Zambia’s Lilongwe Region 5 Games Chef de Mission Thandeka G. Soko met with the team on 21 November to hear their concerns while in camp as they prepare to leave for the prestigious games on Sunday 27 November.
Soko reminded athletes that the nation will be showing them support adding that they should work hard to mint medals to make the nation proud.
During the meeting, the team was guided on what they should anticipate in Malawi and ensure that they remain well disciplined and compete well. Soko, further urged the young players that they should draw inspiration from athletes like Barbara Banda, Patson Daka and many others who through sport are national heroes.
The 10th edition of the Region 5 Games themed ‘Igniting the African Dream’ to be hosted by Malawi will see Zambia taking athletes in twelve sports codes namely; athletics, athletics VI, basketball, boxing, football, judo, swimming, taekwondo, tennis, volleyball, netball and E-sports.
Team Zambia consists of 321 athletes and 87 officials which include coaches.
Members of the Region comprise 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 are not limited to these; sprinters Sydney Siame, Daniel Mbewe, Suwilanji Mpondela, Niddy Minglishi, Kennedy Luchembe, boxers Patrick Chinyemba, Stephen Zimba, Evaristo Mulenga, swimmer Tilka Paljk, Judokas Simon Zulu, Mathews Mwango among others.
The Region 5 Games will commence on 2-11 December with the official opening being held at Bingu National Stadium.
