Sports Minster, Nkandu, tasks athletics confederations to design way forward for the game

Youth, Sport and Arts Minister, Elvis Nkandu, has challenged the Confederation of African Athletics (CAA) leaders to come up with policies that will shape the direction of athletics for the next decade.

Nkandu said there was need to envision how Africa would sustain the world dominance in long distance races and marathons even as it pursues other frontiers.

He was speaking during the opening ceremony of the Confederation of African Athletics Congress that ushered in a new president at Mulungushi International Conference Centre in Lusaka on Thursday.

The CAA is holding its elective annual general meeting in Lusaka as president of the Confederation of African athletics Hamad Kalkaba Malboum eyes to retain the presidency in the presence of World Athletics president Sebastian Cole who is among the delegates attending the meeting.

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“Our most important stakeholder are the athletes who are looking up to us in clearly visioning of athletics in Africa. As we deliberate, let us endeavour to focus on the policies and plans that will uplift the future of athletics in Africa,” Nkandu said.

He believed that leaders could make a difference in the development of athletics in Africa before handing over the mantle to the next generation of leaders in athletics.

“The world athletics is here to support us but it must be us as Africans to determine where we want to take athletics for the next decade,” he said.

“We need to envision how we shall sustain the world dominance in long distance races and marathons even as we pursue other frontiers where we feel we have not done well as Africa,” he said.

Nkandu also noted the need for the current generation of leaders to focus on African athletes in remote areas who have not experienced running on a tartan track or worn a spike despite the great talent.

“We are challenged as Africans in the way we should draft our policies and plans,” Nkandu said.

Meanwhile, all is set for the 2023 under-18 and Under-20 African athletics championships that will be held in Ndola.

Over 700 athletes from 54 countries will compete at the Youth Championships which will be launched by President Hakainde Hichilema.

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