The Malawi National Council of Sports (MNCS) has challenged Team Malawi to surpass the record of 37 medals it made during the 2022 edition of African Union Sports Council (AUSC) Region 5 Youth Games.
Team Malawi was scheduled to leave for the Games in Namibia yesterday but the trip has been rescheduled to today as the chartered plane awaited aviation clearance.
Team Malawi, comprising 165 athletes from 14 sport codes, will take part in the Games in Namibia from July 4 to 14.
MNCS Chief Executive Officer Henry Kamata said the team’s goal was to surpass the 37 medals they won in 2022, when Malawi hosted the competition in Lilongwe.
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However, Kamata was quick to point out that the paramount goal was to build a team that would win more medals in 2030 Commonwealth Games and 2032 Region 5 Youth Games.
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“As we go for the Namibia Region 5 Youth Games, we expect to exceed our performance in the last edition. We have not specifically given Team Malawi targets per se because we are building a pool of athletes for 2030 Commonwealth Games and 2032 Olympics.
“This is a process we have embarked on so that Malawi stops participating on solidarity or universality basis on the international scene. We want to be counted in the sports world but we need to build [something] and we are in the process [of doing that] now. Namibia Games are part of our building programme,” Kamata said.
Meanwhile, Malawi Under 20 Men’s Football Team Coach Milias Jegwe Pofera has said he is gunning for gold at the tournament.
“We won a bronze medal in 2022 despite having some minor challenges with the team but we are ready and geared to do better than last time,” he said.
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On his part, Lawn Tennis squad Coach Ronald Kandulu said his charges were ready to surpass the 2022 record.
“The players are ready and we had very good training, split thrice between June last year and July this year. We are optimistic of doing much better this year,” Kandulu said.
The Games, which are scheduled to take place in the city of Windhoek, include football, netball, basketball, lawn tennis, judo, boxing, karate, volleyball, E-sport, swimming, athletics, Special Olympics and para-athletics.
