President Rupiah Banda yesterday urged newly-appointed sports permanent secretary Teddy Mulonga to lift the various sports disciplines in Zambia.

Speaking after he swore in Mulonga as permanent secretary during a ceremony at State House in Lusaka, President Banda said he had taken personal interest in sports and would work with Mulonga and sports minister Kenneth Chipungu to lift sports in Zambia.
“Mr Teddy Mulonga, it's a household name.

He has been appropriately taken to the Ministry of Sport, Youth and Child Development where he is interested in sports particularly the largest sport football in our country which you run with the organising board in Football Association of Zambia (FAZ)," President Banda said. "During your tenure, I watched you very carefully. You always lifted Zambia higher than it was under difficult circumstances. I recall our under 20 went to the World Cup and it was team to fear."

He recalled that when Mulonga was FAZ president and took the U-20 national team to the Canada 2007 FIFA Under-20 World Cup they ran out of money and he (Mulonga) had to telephone late president Levy Mwanawasa for more funds.

"The president sent money through London. You always put your work, the interest of the footballers, the interest of the young people, the interest of Zambia ahead of you,” President Banda observed.

"So I believe that your coming this time as permanent secretary will help lift the spirits of the Zambian people. We had hoped that the game against North Korea will lift our spirits but it looks like it was too easy to celebrate. We would like you to assist...

"You know, the President has taken personal interest in football so with you there as permanent secretary, I look forward to working with you and your minister to ensure that we lift the Zambian game; in boxing, football, volleyball, tennis, all the games."