Medallist asks State to honour pay of bonuses
Africa 5,000m champion Edward Zakayo has urged the government through the Ministry of Sports to pay athletes winning monies from previous events.
Zakayo who is also the African Games silver medallist said athletes who are unattached to the disciplined forces will be the most hit during this uncertain times when the coronavirus pandemic continues to tear into the world of sports.
He says the immediate solution is for the government to settle all the pending monies more so the prize money for winning medals in various events. “Athletics is the lifeline for most of us.
We don’t have any source of income. That is why I am appealing to the government to settle the debts,” said Zakayo who is also the world U20 5,000m champion.
He said unlike fellow athletes who have other jobs, athletes like him who solely depend on athletes are finding it tough to survive especially now that athletics has been paralysed.
“I am lucky I have an agent who has been helpful in such times. Had it not been for the monies he has been giving me, maybe I could have quit athletics to go and start farming to feed myself and my family,” added Zakayo who has represented Kenya in up to seven events and medaled in all of them.
