TEULINGS GAMES GET ANOTHER EXTENDED FUNDING
TEULINGS GAMES GET ANOTHER EXTENDED FUNDING
Hans Bertels representative of Coen Teulings and Chairman of Merifin Capital in Belgium has announced the extension of funding to the Teulings Youth Sports Challenge for 2025.
Bertels disclosed during the Teulings Youth Sports Challenge grand finale, held on 23 November 2024 at the OYDC Zambia—Sports Development Centre, that the chairman was happy with the success stories the project has continued to record since 2011.
He expressed hope that, with the extension of funding, Zambia will continue to nurture and produce athletes who can show glory in major games such as the upcoming Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games.
The Teulings Youth Sports Challenge is one of Zambia’s biggest youth leagues which has seen a number of athletes getting selected to join clubs and national teams and have gone as far as participating in games like Olympic, AUSC Region 5 and Africa Games.
Twelve sports codes are run; basketball, boxing, judo, taekwondo, football, hockey, rugby, netball, handball, Baseball5 beach volleyball, and teqball.
Minister of Youth, Sport and Arts Hon Elvis Nkandu who was guest of honour says the Government through the leadership of President Hakainde Hichilema appreciates the support which Coen Teulings continues to provide to the OYDC Zambia to see that more young talented athletes are well developed.
He further said that the government will ensure that the running track at the OYDC Zambia which has worn out is replaced so that future young stars like Muzala Samukonga can utilise the facility.
During the same event, Minister Nkandu unveiled the refurbished multipurpose hall which was donated to the OYDC Zambia – Sports Development Centre through the National Olympic Committee of Zambia (NOCZ) by the Association of National Olympic Committees of Africa (ANOC).
Speaking earlier ANOCA Secretary General Engr. Ahmed Abou Elgasim Hasim pledged his association’s support to the OYDC Zambia.
He said Zambian athletes have potential and should be supported with good facilities for their training and competitions stating that “Zambia is the future of sports”.
National Olympic Committee of Zambia (NOCZ) president Alfred Foloko who is also ANOCA Zone 6 president said Coen’s dedication has started to yield positive results evidenced by the strides some athletes are making.
He added that the NOCZ was grateful to ANOCA for the new floor mat in the main hall which underscores ANOCA’s steadfast commitment to supporting high-performance sports infrastructure and ensuring that athletes have access to world-class facilities.
Meanwhile, OYDC Zambia Board of Trustees Chairperson Simangolwa Shakalima has appealed to sports associations to make use of the facilities such as the newly re-launched multipurpose hall.
He expressed happiness that Coen Teulings will be supporting the OYDC Zambia for another year in running the Teulings Youth Sports Challenge adding that with facilities being facelifted Zambia will continue to produce world-class sports heroes.
The grand finale marked the end of the 2024 sports season for Teulings and over 300 young talented athletes were rewarded with trophies and medals.
The event was witnessed by delegates from the International Olympic Committee (IOC), Africam Union Sports Council (AUSC) Region 5, National Sports Council of Zambia (NSCZ), Botswana & Malawi Olympic Committee, and other government officials.
