By MICHAEL MIYOBA
MINISTER of Youth, Sports and Arts Elvis Nkandu says there is need for the ministry and all sports federations to be innovative in sourcing for funds.
Nkandu however reaffirmed the government’s commitment to ensuring that sports federations are treated equally to achieve the desired goals in promoting the growth of sports in the country.
Nkandu said there is need to commercialise sports as it has potential to create employment for the youth.
He said Government will make it a priority to look for funds to support sports federations to achieve the desired goals.
“Funding needs to be improved and it is my duty as minister to go and cry to the ministry of Finance so that the ministry is well funded because this ministry is in the spotlight. If it is not well funded then we may have problems with the 36 percent of the youth in the country.
“However, we need to be very innovative, instead of just waiting for Government funding, there must be a way to be proactive in resource mobilisation,” Nkandu said.
“My administration will make it a priority to make sure that there is equity. We need to differentiate fair distribution of resources and equity. All sports disciplines are entitled to receive equal attention.”
Meanwhile, Nkandu tasked the Director of Sports to come up with a plan which will ensure that sports develops in the country.
“If we are talking about the low levels of sports in the country, then we need to go back to the roots. If it means the Director of Sports looking for those that can help us to promote all these sports disciplines, I encourage you to do that so that at the end of the day we will have athletes from as far as Kaputa where I’m coming from,” Nkandu said.
He said tapping talent in rural areas such as Kaputa should not be for football alone but all sports disciplines such as athletics, netball and boxing.
