Online Reporter
Zimpapers Sports Hub
THE Podium Performance Programme (PPP) goes to the heart of the African union Sports Council Region 5 mandate in advancing high-performance sport and international competitiveness.
The PPP was introduced in 2015 as a strategic intervention aimed at transitioning athletes from participation to podium success.
It’s also meant to strengthen elite athlete development pathways, enhance coaching, sports science, and athlete support systems and increase the Region’s competitiveness at continental and global events, including the Olympic Games.
Region 5 encouraged Member Countries to adopt this programme as part of a broader strategy to ensure that talent identified at grassroots and youth levels is systematically nurtured into world-class athletes.
The AUSC Region 5 consists of Angola, Botswana, Eswatini (formerly Swaziland), Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, Zambia and Zimbabwe.
While Region 5 provided the framework and strategic direction, implementation has been country-driven, according to AUSC Region 5 CEO, Stanley Mutoya.
“A number of Member Countries adopted elements of the programme at varying levels.
“However, full and structured implementation has not been uniform across the Region.
“Some countries integrated PPP into national sport policies and high-performance systems, while others faced capacity and resource constraints,” Mutoya said.
This variation in implementation largely explains the differences in outcomes.
Countries such as Botswana and Zambia have recorded Olympic success due to several key factors.
“These countries have established consistent investment in High Performance through dedicated funding for elite athletes and structured preparation cycles
“They have also developed and implemented strong Athlete Pathways that outline clear transition from youth competitions (including Region 5 Games) to elite levels,” Mutoya said.
“These countries have designed and provided access to Sports Science and Coaching.
“They have been intentional in delivering improved coaching standards and access to international training environments for their athletes, coaches and sports administrators.”
In addition, they have focused Talent Identification investment towards specific disciplines with high medal potential and where their greatest potential lies.
“Region 5 does not directly implement programmes at national level.
“However, the primary responsibility for implementation rests with Member Countries.
“Region 5 provides policy guidance and frameworks,” Mutoya said.
Support to Member Countries also comes in the form of monitoring progress through regional platforms and reporting mechanisms, while facilitating capacity-building programmes (coaching, administration, high performance).
In addition, Region 5 uses events such as the Region 5 Youth Games as a pipeline for talent development
There are obvious gaps in performance by Region 5 Member Countries at Continental and global championships.
The gaps in Olympic performance across the Region in particular, can be attributed to inconsistent funding for high-performance programmes, limited access to sports science and medical support systems, weak or fragmented athlete development pathways, insufficient monitoring and evaluation mechanisms at national level and competing national priorities affecting sustained investment in sport.
These factors remain universal across all 10 Region 5 Member Countries and could by extension be generalised to the majority of African countries.
“Region 5 is currently strengthening its approach and deliverables through enhanced focus on PPP as a flagship high-performance frameworks.
“The Region is also strengthening Long-Term Athlete Development pathways (LTAD) as well as promoting regional training hubs and shared expertise’ Mutoya added.
Plans are underway to establish satellite Regional PPP High Performance Centres in Angola, Botswana, Lesotho, Namibia, South Africa, Zambia and Zimbabwe and in the process encouraging greater accountability and performance tracking.
