WHILE expressing solidarity to the Chipolopolo-Zambia Men’s National Football team, President Hakainde Hichilema has called for enhanced grassroot talent.
Following their loss in the AFCON tournament, the President, who is not unfamiliar with loss during his political journey, notes that defeat is never easy.
State House said in a statement that Mr Hichilema emphasises that loss is an opportunity to retrategize.
“State House conveys its solidarity with the Zambia men’s National Football Team following their exit from the AFCON tournament currently taking place in Morocco.
“While defeat is never easy, President Hakainde Hichilema understands, both personally and as a competitor, what loss feels like and how it must not warrant condemnation,” a statement reads.
“More importantly, he understands the value of returning to the drawing board, to reassess, to re-plan, to re-strategise, and ultimately to re-launch with renewed purpose”.
The President believes that this moment marks the beginning of a new national journey, one of introspection, rediscovery, and the deliberate reclaiming of Zambia’s proud sporting history.
” Like any well-conceived and sustainable plan, this journey will demand time, hard work, collaboration, and patience. A culture that seeks instant results is neither helpful nor sustainable in rebuilding a strong and enduring foundation,” the President said.
He said Zambia was once a regional and continental sporting powerhouse, built on a vibrant grassroots sports culture.
” Local Authority Community places, played a critical role in identifying and nurturing talent in all sporting disciplines. Our schools produced football ‘school-boy internationals’ through well-structured and fiercely competitive inter-provincial sporting tournaments”.
State House says Mr Hichilema notes that it is saddening and heartbreaking that in the recent past, much of the grassroots infrastructure in schools and local authorities has been lost through unregulated, and in most cases, corruptly acquired means.
“This development has weakened the very foundation upon which sporting excellence was built.
“In response, President Hichilema is calling for a sports revolution beginning in 2026, one anchored in rebuilding infrastructure, strengthening school and community grassroot sports public facilities, across the country as centres of talent identification and development.
He is further calling for sustained dialogue and partnership among all stakeholders, including the private sector, sports institutions, and Government, to chart a clear and collective path forward.
In view of the foregoing, the President has directed the Ministries of Lands, Youth, Sport and Arts, Local Government, and all relevant institutions to ensure, as a bare minimum planning requirement, that every new housing or corpotate settlement, includes designated and adequately developed sports and recreational facilities for the youth and the general public in their localities.
“This is not an end, but a reset, and an opportunity to rebuild Zambian sports deliberately, inclusively, and for lasting success,” the statement reads.
(Mwebantu, Wednesday, 31st December, 2025).
