Taekwondo scouts for funds to upgrade athletes

The Zambia Taekwondo Federation (ZTF) is
scouting for funds to conduct the international upgrading for the
Zambian athletes ahead of next year’s commonwealth youth games in
Australia.
ZTF Technical Director Whiteson Nsofwa said once funds are sourced,
the federation is courting international masters Aly Nour of Egypt and
Salim Hussein of Comoros to help upgrade the local athletes in order
for them to be eligible to participate in international games.
In an interview with ZANIS sports today, Nsofwa however could not
disclosed the amount needed but said his federation will soon come up
with the total budget for the exercise.
Nsofwa appealed to government through the National Sports Council of
Zambia (NSCZ) and the corporate world to financially assist his
federation for the international upgrading exercise.
He explained that the current crop of eligible black belt holders in
the country is aging hence the need to upgrade the young red belt
holders so that they can competitively represent the country at
international championships.
Nsofwa said once the upgrading is conducted, his federation will then
constitute a formidable team that will represent the country at the
commonwealth youth games.
According to the World Taekwondo Federation (WTF), only black belt
holders are eligible to participate at major international
championship.
And Nsofwa disclosed that his federation has since embarked on the
youth development programme in order to tap more talent at the
grassroots level for the continuity of the sport of taekwondo in the
country.