MOC looks beyond London Olympics

The Malawi Olympic Committee (MOC) says it has put checks on the country’s representation in major international events starting with the forthcoming 2012 London Olympic Games.

Briefing the media on Friday, MOC president Oscar Kanjala and his team of general secretary Helene Mpinganjira, head of marketing Dean Pinto, chef de mission Flora Mwandira and treasurer Jappie Mhango declared that time for athletes embarrassing the nation through poor results and poor administration has come to an end.

“In the absence of winning medals, we will try to make sure that we have quality. We have agreed with the Sports Council in principle on our targets. We have records of all athletes and that will be our head [check]. We want to avoid scenarios where our athletes have not given the best in international competitions,” Kanjala said at the Sports Council’s boardroom.

MOC now has database for all athletes to ensure merit and progress, he said. The mother sports body has also opened up for ideas and advice from its affiliates and key stakeholders such as government, the Sports Council and sponsors to ensure better planning.

Mhango chipped in: “What the president is saying is that we may not bring results which the nation expects from London, but we want to take a team that will demonstrate a degree of improvement so that by 2016, we have a team that can bring honours to the country.”

Ten athletes, two each from taekwendo, swimming, table tennis, athletics and boxing are expected to make the Malawi squad for the London Games to start on July 27.

The Malawian athletes are expected to leave earlier for the United Kingdom for training. The athletes are yet to meet qualifying time.