Zambia Athletics (ZA) President Maj. Bernard Bwalya says talent alone will not take Zambian athletes to the world stage — only discipline and consistency will.

Bwalya delivered the blunt message in Ndola during a Youth Athlete Training Seminar that drew athletes and coaches from Ndola Bullets, Kansenshi Crushers and G-Track Athletics Club.

The Ndola seminar is the latest stop in ZA’s national rollout of the Olympic Solidarity Youth Athlete Coach Education Programme, after the Association sent two coaches and two athletes for specialized training in Nairobi, Kenya.

“This training is not a formality. We are here to strengthen athlete development, instil safeguarding and anti-doping awareness, and prepare our athletes to compete internationally,” Bwalya said.

He said ZA will continue rolling out the programme to all provinces in line with World Athletics best practices, offering continuous capacity-building for coaches and athletes.

The intensive course covered eight critical modules: Training Principles and Planning, Biomechanics, Nutrition and Anti-Doping, Safeguarding and Ethics, Preparing to Compete Internationally, Branding and Social Media, Elite Athlete/Coach Experience Sharing, and Practical Application and Action Planning.

Bwalya challenged Ndola clubs to go beyond seminars and create a competitive ecosystem by organizing regular inter-club competitions and setting up training camps for athletes from distant areas. He emphasized that athletics is more than medals — it is a pathway to sports administration and a better life.

Meanwhile, Bwalya hailed the just-ended Zambia Schools Sports Association (ZASSA) Athletics Championship at Kafubu Stadium in Luanshya, where Southern Province stamped its dominance.

Southern Province retained the title for the second successive year with a commanding 140 points, Lusaka finished second on 116 points, while Western Province completed the podium with 101 points.

“As Zambia Athletics we believe in catching them young. We cannot wait until athletes become seniors before we start developing them. We must find them young, identify them early, nurture them properly and give them a path,” Bwalya said.

ZASSA President Macwani Mwendelema credited the Ministry of Education for organizing the championship, saying regular competition is the only way to unearth and polish talent.

“Talent cannot be identified effectively if athletes only compete occasionally. A young athlete needs regular opportunities to compete, to improve, to be assessed and to be exposed to higher levels of competition,” she said.

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