K600 million for Region V tourney
Malawi National Council of Sports has budgeted over K600 million for the country’s participation in the 2020 African Union Region V Games in Maseru, Lesotho.
The competition, which features under-20 athletes from member states within southern Africa, is scheduled for December.
Sports Council Development Officer, Ruth Mzengo, said Malawi will participate in 10 sports disciplines at the event.
Mzengo said the Malawi contingent would consist of about 300 junior athletes drawn from different parts of the country.
“We are in touch with organisers for us to know what else we need to do to fulfill the competition’s requirements. We are also waiting for the government to allocate funds for the tournament. These funds will be drawn from the 2020/2021 financial budget,” Mzengo said.
The sports disciplines to fly the Malawi flag at the regional contest are football, netball, athletics, basketball, judo, boxing, volleyball, athletics for visual impaired runners, swimming, gymnastics and lawn tennis.
Mzengo said they have asked all member associations to begin preparations for the championship.
“Such preparations are in various areas of need. There are requirements such as birth certificates and passports which have been to be validated on time to avoid logistical challenges,” she said.
Athletics Association of Malawi General Secretary, Frank Chitembeya, said they are geared for the championship.
“We are yet to get formal communication on the competition but we are set. Our athletes train everyday and we are now preparing for a continental athletics competition in March. We expect to send athletes to Togo and this will be part of our training,” Chitembeya said.
Athletes from countries such as Namibia, Mozambique, Zimbabwe, eSwatini, Zambia and South Africa are expected to take part in the competition.
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