Foloko Joins IJF Executive as Zambia Gears Up for Global Judo Spotlight

National Olympic Committee of Zambia President Alfred Foloko, who also serves as President of the Judo Association of Zambia, attended his inaugural International Judo Federation (IJF) Congress as a newly elected member of the IJF Executive Committee, following his appointment as Development Director.

The 2025 IJF Congress, currently underway in Budapest, Hungary, is a pivotal gathering for national federations, continental unions, and the global judo community. A significant highlight of the event was the formation of the new IJF Executive Committee, with President Marius Vizer re-elected to lead the organisation’s strategic direction for the next four years.

Foloko joins 16 other Executive Committee members elected for the 2025–2029 quadrennium, including fellow Africans Estony Pridgeon of South Africa and Mohamed Meridja of Algeria.

Following the Congress, the spotlight will shift to the 2025 World Judo Championships hosted in Budapest. Zambia will be proudly represented by Olympian Steven Mung’andu and his coach, Mathews Punza.

Foloko pictured with Estony Pridgeon during the IJF Congress in Budapest

Notably, Japanese judo legend Kosei Inoue, an Olympic gold medalist and former head coach of Japan’s national team, was also welcomed to the IJF Executive Committee. Inoue is expected to visit Zambia soon as part of a delegation of four Japanese masters namely Haruki Uemura, Misato Nakamura, and Shikuza Hangai, a Paralympic silver medalist from the Paris 2024 Games.

Their visit will feature three special events:

• A Judo Workshop in Lusaka on 18th June, led by three-time world champion and Olympic bronze medalist Misato Nakamura

• A Judogi Donation on World Refugee Day, 20th June, at Maheba Refugee Camp, supported by Inoue

• And the Misato Nakamura Judo Camp at Maheba on 21st June

  
  

These activities, organised in collaboration with NPO Goodlife, aim to ensure everyone can enjoy judo!

This flurry of activity follows the Judo Association of Zambia’s recent honour of being awarded the prestigious 2024 Japanese Foreign Minister’s Commendation in recognition of its outstanding contributions to strengthening Zambia–Japan bilateral relations.