Start preparing for 2028 Olympics now – Matete

Zambian track and field legend Samuel Matete has issued a passionate rallying cry to national sports authorities, demanding that preparations for the 2028 Summer Olympic Games begin without delay. The 1991 world champion and Olympic silver medalist voiced serious concerns over the country's recent underperformance on the international stage, stressing that sustained success cannot be achieved through last-minute interventions. Matete's remarks underscore a growing anxiety among local sports stakeholders regarding the systemic deficiencies plaguing Zambian athletics. According to Matete, the path to Olympic glory requires a radical overhaul of current youth development frameworks and robust institutional support for promising athletes. Speaking from his extensive experience on the global circuit, the 400m hurdles icon noted that nations consistently winning medals treat training as a multi-year, uninterrupted continuum rather than a seasonal scramble. He pointed out that Zambia is endowed with immense raw talent, particularly in grassroots communities and schools across the Copperbelt and Lusaka provinces, but lacks the necessary infrastructure and early-stage nurturing to convert potential into world-class performance. The sports fraternity has largely echoed Matete's sentiments, pointing to chronic underfunding, delayed logistical support, and inadequate training facilities as major stumbling blocks for Zambian Olympians. While regional peers have steadily modernized their sports science capabilities and grassroots academies, Zambian athletes often find themselves battling administrative red tape and financial constraints. Observers note that without a deliberate, well-resourced strategic roadmap targeting the 2028 Los Angeles Games, the nation risks repeating cycles of disappointment at major multi-sport events. In response to these perennial challenges, stakeholders are calling for closer collaboration between the Ministry of Youth, Sport and Arts, the Nationa