Concern raised on psychological effects of COVID-19 lockdown – Chitangala

MUKWIMA CHILALA writes

A SPORTS administrator is concerned at lack of investment in Sports Psychology in Zambia, saying there is need for athletes to be counseled in the wake of inactivity due to the coronavirus threat.

Olympic Youth Development Centre (OYDC) Zambia executive director Fred Chitangala said that the life of all athletes revolves around the playing field and as result, athletes had been affected with the closure of all facilities due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

“Unfortunately it’s of concern that we, as a nation, have not invested much in sports psychology because our athletes need the guidance of experts during this period.

Chitangala said that there was a need for experts and psychologists to work hand in hand with athletes so as to help them during this COVID-19 period.

He said that not only athletes that had qualified to the Olympics but all sports person in general needed help and care on how to cope up with inactivity induced by the pandemic.

He noted that majority of athletes had lost out on income during this period as all facilities had shut down and that there was no resources coming out of gate takings.

Chitangala called on sports persons to devise programmes that would enable them train from home so as to avoid conditions such as obesity and depression.

“We don’t want to have obese athletes or lose our sports men and women due to depression caused by a loss on income or anxiety of just staying home. So our athletes need to devise programs to enable them continue training from home,’’ Chitangala said.

The OYDC Zambia and many other sports facilities have for the past Month remained closed due to the COVID-19 pandemic that has seen all sports and social activities suspended.