Mpondela guns for NOC top seat
I HAVE the managerial skills that can turn the National Olympic Committee (NOC) into an institution capable of generating resources instead of entirely depending on the International Olympic Committee (IOC) funding, says NOC presidential candidate Elias Mpondela.
Mpondela said once elected to the helm of NOC, he would work hard to improve the numbers of adequately prepared athletes to compete at Commonwealth and Olympics games.
He was speaking in an interview yesterday ahead of the NOC elective annual general meeting scheduled for this Saturday at Moba Hotel in Ndola.
Mpondela who is the Zambia Amateur Athletics Association (ZAAA) chief said he would take NOC a leap forward from where the predecessor Miriam Moyo left.
“What can I bring to NOC? I believe credentials speak for themselves. I am capable of resuscitating the institution and create better way of doing things,
“I have what it takes to superintendent over an organisation like NOC and bring positive changes,” he said.
He said he will work hard to bring the corporate world on board as they were a significant stakeholders in raising resources to ensure athletes did not miss out on international engagements dues to financial challenges.
“We will have work together with the executive committee and come up with a strategic plan that will produce fruit. There is need to improve the podium performance for athletes and associations,
“And we should also see how we can engage government and business community to raise resources to supplement the IOC funding,” Mpondela said.
He would strive to enhance the relationship between the Sports Council of Zambia and NOC if Zambia had to reap medals.
Mpondela faces competition from Judo president Alfred Foloko.
Meanwhile, Josab Changa who will contest the post of secretary said he would focus to bridge the gap between NOC and the sports associations which had existed for three decades.
Changa said once elected he would ensure the associations had full information of the opportunities and programmes at NOC.
Boniface Kambikambi will also re-contest the post of secretary.