Government says Martial Art Karate has potential for growth in Zambia, and has since urged the federation to continue working hard and providing good leadership in the alliances.
Minister of Youth and Sports Moses Mawere has since appealed to the federation to come up with strategies that will grow the sport across the country, especially in rural communities and schools.
Mawere emphasised that the federation can grow the sport in Zambia if it adheres to good governance in the management of the sport.
The Minister said government is taking keen interest in the manner that sports federations are run in the country.
He added that government will not hesitate to question any federation that does not adhere to the governance principles, adding that the authority wants to see a positive change in the way sporting activities are being developed across the country.
The Minister said this in a speech read for him by Ministry of Sports Acting Director Gibson Muyaule at the Japanese Ambassador’s Karate tournament in Lusaka yesterday.
Mr. Mawere said the event has enabled competitors to come together to share ideas and best practices of fair play, friendship and solidarity which he said is in line with the 2012 sports policy.
He added that the sponsorship of the tournament by the Japanese Embassy is a demonstration of the good international relations that Zambia shares with the Japanese government.
And Japanese Ambassador to Zambia Hidenobu Sobashima said he has found everything possible to further strengthen bilateral relations between his country and Zambia in various sectors.
Mr Sobashima noted that the sponsorship of the karate tournament is one of the ways the Japanese government is strengthening ties with Zambia.
The Ambassador disclosed that in the last 8 years, the Japanese government has been holding karate tournaments, and about 8,000 Zambians have participated and expressed gratitude over the event.
Karatekers from 4 other countries besides Zambia participated in the tournament held at the National Sports Development Complex (NASDEC) in Lusaka.
The finals of the tournament were also witnessed by the United World Karate Federation President Imtiaz Abdulla who is also in the country for the tournament.
I saw some clips on TV on this event. It appears more of street fighting than Karate…this suggests that the Karate standards have dropped.
Fighting has potential?
@Nubian Princess, Sport (not fighting) has potential. Have ever heard of people like Floyd Mayweather, Mike Tyson, Cullum Mcgregor, Bruce Lee, etc and their contribution to the economy?
Karate or street fighting? Tamwaishiba ati to fight karate someone has to be on a normal diet? I only know of one man in Zambia who eats well. Unfortunately he’s always drunk and dancing Chimwemwe dance
Missed priorities. How do people fight with this hunger??
Green buffalos karate and judo teams are the best in Zambia by far… abashala ni bangwele…
We’ve sold our country to the Chinese!