NOCZ WELCOMES EXPERT BOXING COACH

On the sidelines of the ongoing National Olympic Committee of Zambia (NOCZ) Strategic Planning Workshop, NOCZ President Alfred Foloko, Vice President Hazel Kennedy, Secretary-General Boniface Kambikambi, and Board Members Dickson Jere, Mutale Masala, and Rodrick Ndlovu this morning welcomed English Boxing Coach Barry Philpott to Zambia.

Barry is an expert boxing coach from England, who will be placed with the Zambia Boxing Federation (ZBF) to support and prepare Team Zambia Boxers for the upcoming Commonwealth Games in July this year.

ZBF General Secretary Westie Prince, Coach Barry Philpott and NOCZ Secretary General Boniface Kambikambi

Mr. Foloko said the placement of the coach is a deliberate effort of the NOCZ as part of its continued quest to enhance athlete development and provide quality sports services to athletes.

He added saying that boxing has demonstrated the potential of becoming one of Zambia's top-performing sports globally and should therefore be supported by all through such initiatives.

He encouraged ZBF to leverage the opportunity by utilizing the expertise of Coach Bally to the maximum.

" These activities should go beyond Birmingham with the many games that we have coming up like Paris 2024 and Los Angeles 2028. It's not only with our boxers but we will go beyond and ensure that all the sports teams participating at the Birmingham games are fully trained and prepared," he remarked.

President Foloko further thanked the Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF) for supporting NOC/CGA Zambia on this initiative and ensuring that one of the best coaches comes to Zambia to prepare the boxing team for the Birmingham Games.

And for Coach Barry, the two months placement will be an opportunity to work hand in hand with the Coaches Wisdom Mudenda and his assistant Manchester 2002 Commonwealth Games Gold Medalist Kennedy Kanyanta and assured to do the best for the athletes.

Coach Barry welcomed by the NOCZ and ZBF Delegation

He said he hopes more boxers and coaches would come forward and position themselves for the future.

Meanwhile, ZBF General Secretary Westie Chewe said with the advice and technical know-how of the English coach and local coaches, Zambia will be positioned for podium performance at all local and International games ahead.

He thanked the NOCZ for facilitating an expert coach to work with the federation and has since called upon other stakeholders to come on board in helping the athletes grow.