From Grassroots to Greatness: Zambia Athletics Launches Club Funding and Talent Discovery Drive

For the first time in 27 years, Zambian athletics clubs will receive official financial support, a move set to reawaken the sport from the grassroots level up.

Zambia Athletics President Major Francis Bernard Bwalya confirmed that the national federation is rolling out a robust development strategy aimed at unearthing new talent and reviving community-level sports structures. This includes the historic reintroduction of club funding, alongside a countrywide talent identification program.

“This is how champions are built, not from the top, but from the ground up,” said Major Bwalya in a media briefing. “We want to fund the pipeline, from the first pair of spikes to the Olympic starting block.”

Zambia Athletics will allocate K300,000 to provincial athletics bodies, with a strong focus on channeling those funds into community clubs. Clubs, which have long operated without resources, will now have the opportunity to invest in proper training equipment, uniforms, and travel for young athletes.

“Some clubs have survived on nothing but passion,” said a provincial coach from Central Province. “Now, they have a fighting chance to actually develop athletes who can go all the way.”

Alongside club funding, the federation is launching a national talent identification program that will partner with schools and rural communities. The goal: to find raw, untapped talent in every corner of Zambia, from dusty village fields to inner-city courts.

These athletes will be scouted, trained, and tracked through a new athlete development database, ensuring promising individuals get the support they need as they progress through the ranks.

Zambia Athletics says the long-term vision is to establish a seamless athlete development pathway: from early-stage identification in schools and community clubs, through to provincial competitions, and eventually to elite national and international events.

This system aims to correct years of stagnation and lost potential due to underfunded structures and lack of coordination.

“We believe Zambia has world-class talent,” said Major Bwalya. “But without grassroots investment, we’ll never unlock it.”

The strategy is part of Zambia Athletics’ broader Vision 2030 plan, which outlines goals for international competitiveness, infrastructure development, and sports science integration.

If successful, this grassroots revival could usher in a golden generation for Zambian track and field, built not on luck or individual sacrifice, but on a system designed to deliver greatness from the ground up.