HANDBALL NATIONAL TEAM APPEALS TO PRESIDENT HICHILEMA FOR SPONSORSHIP TO EGYPT
“We are Southern Africa Champions”
DEAR YOUR EXCELLENCY THE REPUBLICAN PRESIDENT OF ZAMBIA MR HAKAINDE HICHILEMA, SIR ON BEHALF OF THE ATHLETES COMMISSION AND THE GENERAL ATHLETES, WE WISH TO APPEAL TO YOU TO INTERVENE INTO THE CURRENT SITUATION INVOLVING THE SENIOR MEN’S HANDBALL NATIONAL TEAM PREPARING FOR THE AFRICA CUP OF NATIONS HANDBALL CHAMPIONSHIP SLATED FOR CAIRO EGYPT. AS REIGNING CHAMPIONS IN THE SOUTHERN AFRICA REGION, WE HAVE THE OBLIGATION TO MAKE OUR COUNTRY PROUD IN THE NEW DAWN GOVERNMENT.
YOUR EXCELLENCY, THE HANDBALL NATIONAL TEAM IS STRANDED AS THERE SEEMS TO BE NO FINANACIAL SUPPORT COMING FROM THE LINE MINISTRY OF SPORT, YOUTH AND ART. YOUR EXCELLENCY, THE TEAM WAS CAMPED IN RWANDA AND UGANDA AS A WAY OF ENHANCING INTENSIVE TRAINING AND EXPOSURE IN READINESS FOR THE CONTINENTAL CHAMPIONSHIP STARTING ON 10TH TO 19TH JULY 2022.
YOUR EXCELLENCY SIR, THE TEAM IS IN A DILEMMA AS THERE IS LITTLE HOPE THAT THE TEAM WILL BE FUNDED AS FLAG BEARERS DESPITE OUR ASSOCIATION OFFICIALS HAVING HAD ENGAGED THE MINISTRY OF SPORT SEVERAL TIMES FROM LAST YEAR 2021.
YOUR EXCELLENCY, YOUNG PEOPLE HAVE HOPE IN YOUR LEADERSHIP.
WITH THE NEW DAWN GOVERNMENT COMMITMENT OF SUPPORTING ALL SPORTS, TRULY WE ARE BACK IN THE CHAMPIONS LEAGUE.WE CAN BELIEVE AND HOPE AGAIN.
HOWEVER, OUR WORRY IS TO HAVE OUR BELOVED SPORT SUSPENDED AND ZAMBIA SANCTIONED FOR FAILING TO TAKE PART IN THE CHAMPIONSHIP AFTER QUALIFYING.
YOUR EXCELLENCY, SPORT IS A LUCRATIVE INDUSTRY WITH THE POTENTIAL TO CREATE JOBS FOR THE YOUTHS BUT IT IS A SITUATION LIKE THE ONE FACING THE HANDBALL NATIONAL TEAM THAT DEMOTIVATES THE YOUNG PEOPLE FROM ACTIVELY PARTICIPATING IN SPORT AS THERE SEEMS TO BE NO EQUITY IN THE DISTRIBUTION OF FUNDS.
YOUR EXCELLENCY, THE WOMEN SOCCER NATIONAL TEAM WAS GIVEN K20 MILLION BY THE GOVERNMENT FOR THE AFRICA CUP OF NATIONS CHAMPIONSHIP IN MORROCCO AND YET THE MEN’S HANDBALL NATIONAL TEAM GOING TO A SIMILAR CONTINENTAL CHAMPIONSHIP IN EGYPT HAS BEEN SIDELINED THOUGH WITH A LESSER BUDGET OF K1.9MILLION.
WE BELIEVE THE NARRATIVE CAN BE CHANGED THROUGH YOUR LEADERSHIP.
THANK YOU.
BERNARD MULENGA
ATHLETES COMMISSION
