Youth, Sports and Culture Minister Alfred Gangata has said there is a need to promote initiatives aimed at enhancing skills and knowledge of athletics coaches in the country.
Gangata made the remarks during the opening of the Development of National Sports System Programme at Bingu National Stadium in Lilongwe City Wednesday.
He said the one-year programme, which is running from April 2026 to April 2027, is a significant step towards addressing some of the key challenges faced in the sports sector.
“I am particularly encouraged that this programme focuses on capacity building of athletics coaches, talent identification and performance enhancement. These are critical pillars for building a sustainable and competitive national sports system,” Gangata said.
He said the government was committed to creating an enabling environment for sports development.
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“We recognise that success in sport does not happen overnight; it requires structured planning, investment and collaboration among all stakeholders,” he said.
He said coaches and technical persons were the backbone of sports development.
Malawi Olympic Committee (Moc) is funding the programme using resources from Olympic Solidarity.
Moc Vice President Francis Kakhuta Banda said the training had come at the right time.
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“This training will enable us to have qualified personnel. We have struggled on the international stage due to limited technical capacity among athletes and coaches,” he said.
Malawi Athletics President Kondwani Chamwala said the training was focusing on keys gaps in athletics, especially in marathon development.
The training is being facilitated by Oliver Scheer of Austria.
