Zimbabwe’s minister for youth, sport, arts and recreation Kirsty Coventry has called on stakeholders to find a way to work together and ensure there is consistent support for athletes.
Coventry made the call at the 2018 Annual National Sports Awards in Harare to honour outstanding athletes, officials and administrators.
Speaking at the event, Coventry, a former athlete herself, said there is need to ensure athletes are supported throughout the year.
“I think we have to be consistent. And I think we have to come together and figure out how we work together in terms of the different organisations — national federations, Government and the Sports Commission in terms of supporting the athletes consistently throughout the year, not just right before the big games.
“To do that and to try and do that constantly,” said Coventry.
“We need to work extremely hard to ensure that we have corporate sponsors coming back on board.
“And that’s only going to happen when we can start proving that there are some good things and good changes in the .
“Hopefully, that’s going to happen in the next few weeks.
“I think that there is always improvement, I think we always have to try and be better.
“I think when it comes to what I was just talking about, the structures and re-looking at getting people on board, there has been a lot of mistrust from corporates, from national federations, and we have to win back that trust.”