COACH Ian Stevenson says it would be tough for the swimmers to reap medals at the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games.
Stevenson said in an interview yesterday that the swimmers will be going to Scotland were not yet ripe to challenge for medals with world best athletes.
He, however, expressed happiness that the swimmers will this time around be going for the Commonwealth Games having qualified unlike in the past when they got wildcards entry.
“Commonwealth Games are at a high level and I think the outing will provide a good opportunity for the swimmers to get the needed experience. I am happy that the swimmers qualified but time is not yet ripe for them to start winning medals,” he said.
He said he was expecting a good performance from the likes of Alex Axotis who has broken a number of records and Ralph Goviea who is currently training in South Africa.
Stevenson also said Tilka Paljik and Milimo Mathews were also among the swimmers he was expecting a good performance from.
The Zambia Amateur Swimming Union (ZASU) has picked eight swimmers to represent the country at the Games and will be under the guidance of coaches like Victor Malovwa and Fred Mwanza.
Meanwhile, 33 swimmers are in Uganda for the CANA Zone 3 and 4 Gala that starts today and ends on May 27 in Kampala.