‘Fight match fixing in sports’
Written by Millennium on April 30, 2019
MUKWIMA CHILALA writes
THERE is need for more awareness and education campaigns to sensitize masses on the risk factors in sports such as match fixing, says former Zambia national team striker Nchimunya Mweetwa.
Speaking in an interview with the Sun sport, Mweetwa a former match fixing convict said that he was saddened to see sports administrators and athletes being banned for match manipulation by FIFA.
Mweetwa who is now president of the Nchimunya Mweetwa Foundation, an organization which advocates against vices in sport, observed that match manipulation eroded the value of fair play, ruins the integrity of the sport and destroyed careers.
He said that his foundation was committed to promoting good morals and clean sport in order to restore public confidence in all forms of athletic competition.
Mweetwa however observed there was need for concerted efforts by all well-meaning sportsmen to ensure greater commitment to clean sport in Zambia and beyond.
“It is a complex vice that needs a lot of work and effort from everybody to combat it, especially those involved in sport be the administrators, coaches, athletes or spectators ,we all need to work together,” said Mweetwa.
He said that the bans being handed to athletes and administrators were evidence that anyone could be caught in the web if the vice was not dealt with vigorously.
Mweetwa has since called on all lovers of sport, including policy makers to acknowledge that match manipulation was a real problem affecting sport and Zambia was no exception.
“As a country that is full of talent and skills we need to avoid match manipulation by first admitting that it is also rampant in Zambia,
“In line with our vision, we want to see a world in which sport is enjoyed as a product of the natural talents, skills, and hard work because the conduct of athletes is clean, fair and transparent on and off the field of play,’’ he said
He said that his Foundation would continue to create and sustain the conditions necessary for athletes to desire and exhibit character and integrity while going on to enjoy long and prosperous lives.
Mweetwa further said that the Foundation remained committed to promoting transparency and good conduct in sport by ensuring everyone participated in the Clean Sport Campaign.
