In their quest to see that the nation continues to reap medals at very competitive and fascinating breathtaking games, Zambia Judo Association (ZJA) has continued to identify athletes with amazing judo skills by using the Teulings Youth Sports Challenge.
As the nation prepares to send athletes to the African Union Sports Council (AUSC) Region 5 Games in Lilongwe, Malawi where U19 athletes will be competing in several sports codes, Zambia Judo Association (ZJA) General Secretary Mabvuto Ng’uni says the association through the technical team has continued to use the Teulings judo league games to prepare and identify more athletes for upcoming games such as the All Africa Games, Olympics and AUSC Region 5.
Ng’uni says the association remains resolute to reaching the podium by ensuring that athletes are well prepared for any international games hence the need to utilise the Teulings Youth Sports Challenge hosted at the OYDC Zambia – Sports Development Centre adding that if athletes are not given a chance at the grassroots level to showcase their skills it would be difficult for any association to boast of athlete’s ecstasy performances when taking part in competitive games.
‘’Zambia Judo is one of the sports codes taking part in the Teulings tournament which is usually twice a month or so and covers the U15 athletes. Going along with our strategic plan in terms of athletes’ development, the Teulings sets a foundation for the development of our athletes whom we engage in international major competitions such as Commonwealth, All Africa, and Olympic games. The importance of the Teulings is that it keeps our athletes set because they’re always on the tatami in collaboration with OYDC and ZJA to ensure that these athletes are allowed to showcase their talent’’ he said.
He added ‘’you are aware that we are taking part in the Malawi regional games [AUSC Region 5 Games] in December 2022, come 2024 we have Mozambique hosting the regional games. So it is as the result of the Teulings that we always host that technical staff can identify athletes as young as 5,6, 7 and 8 pre-cadet level to start developing it so that by 2024, those that are 13,14 years can be factored into the long term athlete preparations so that they can be able to participate in the regional games’’.
The Teulings Youth Sports Challenge in Lusaka at the OYDC Zambia has proven to be a household name were youth competition is concerned. Having launched in 2011, and supported by Coen Teulings, Chairman of Merifin Capital in Belgium the youth league has seen several top Zambian athletes graduate to playing for local clubs and national teams.
