SPORTS Council of Zambia (SCZ) vice-chairperson Mwamba Kalenga at the weekend hosted a luncheon for visually impaired athletes as a way of encouraging them ahead of the Supreme Council for Sports in Africa (SCSA) Zone Six Youth Games slated for Lusaka.

Kalenga, who hosted the luncheon for the athletes at the Rainbow Lodge in Lusaka, urged the athletes to remain focused on winning medals for the country as a way of compensating Government's investment in camping and hosting of the games.

He said the visually impaired athletes should be supported as they were part of society and urged the athletes to put in their best as they would be representing millions of Zambians, who will be anxiously waiting for medals.

"Consider how lucky you are to be picked among the millions of Zambians to participate in these games.

The onus is now on you to show the Zambians what you can do on the pitch by winning medals because that is what everybody wants.

This lunch was merely to show you that you are not alone but we are here to support you all the way until when the games start. Remain focused and avoid engaging yourselves in bad vices that would ruin your careers," he said.

National Paralympics Committee (NPC) team coach Wisdom Moonga said 21 athletes were in camp and that Zambia would for the first time be represented by Lucky Maibbe in the T-11 category, which is for the totally blind.

Moonga said the athletes would take part in the 100m, 200m 400m and 800m events and expressed confidence that Zambia will win medals going by the preparations which the athletes have undergone.

"I know competition would be stiff but we have a good crop of athletes who will win us those medals. This is the first time that we have such a high number of athletes competing in a competition and our chances are high despite the challenge other countries will pose," he said.