Today I came back to Zambia for a few hours!
With a beautiful surprise …
When this morning the First Secretary of the Zambian Embassy in London a Press Officer, Mr. Amos Chanda, fixed me an appointment with the High Commissioner Lt. Col Bizwayo Nkunika, I thought it was going to be a face to face meeting … instead I found myself with the all Zambian delegation …
Katongo Lasamu and Rhodah Mutale are the two athletes who will represent Zambia on the field, both come from Lusaka, Lasamu comes from the compound of Zingalume, he is at his second Paralympics after Beijing, and he will attempt on the 800 and 1500 meters, Rodah, from Matero Compound, will try further shot put possible, in the female competition.
The High Commissioner encouraged his athletes, he asked about personal bests, encouraged them reminding them not to be scared of the athletes of the more titled teams, at the end on the track, he said, we are all human beings … where they can win, we can win too … take part under this spirit without fear.
The special seat which Rodah should use during her athletic gesture has not arrived, so the delegation is the desperate search of one of her size, otherwise she will have to compete without compromising her performance …
The meeting with the High Commissioner happened in a very familiar climate, everybody, me included, introduced himself to others and spoke, reporting experiences and expectations … in my case I talked about my journey and donated a Sport2build jersey to the High Commissioner … I wished the best to the athletes reminding them that the importance of their performance goes beyond the competition itself, but also represents the hope for all those living disability in Zambia.
The coach Mr Goma, who trained the athletes at the OYDC in Lusaka, and the scting President of the Zambian Paralympic Federation, Mr Charles Ngandwe, are very hopeful on the possibility of a good placement for Katongo on the 1500 meters.
The delegation has no mealie meal, nsima, the maize porridge which is always present on Zambian tables, and which I can also testify is a formidable carbohydrate for sport, they have to make do with the rice of the Olympic Village … I remember an old man from Chikupi told me that rice is good for breakfast or for Musungu … hopefully the athletes will do well even without it!