Zambia will face Swaziland away next week in the first leg, preliminary round qualifiers of the inaugural 2009 Caf Africa Nations Championship (CHAN).
The CHAN tournament will be exclusively competed for by home-based national team players and no foreign-based players will be allowed to participate in the qualifiers or the final tournament.
Faz confirmed today that Zambia had been drawn against Swaziland after they together with nine other countries were omitted from the initial draws made last month by Caf.
“We will play Swaziland away during the weekend of March 28-30,” Faz general secretary Fidelis Banda said today.
“Time is tight and we will put together our best team possible for the game.”
Banda added that it was too early to say whether Patrick Phiri would be in charge of the team that is expected to go into camp over the coming days.
Phiri’s contract as Zambia head coach with Faz ends on March 29.
Meanwhile Banda has insisted that Zambia had initially applied to take part in the qualifiers for the CHAN finals to be held in Cote de Ivoire from February 122 to March 8, 2009.
Zambia and Swaziland will be meeting for the first time since June 11, 2005 in a match the former beat the latter 3-0 in a Cosafa Castle cup group C match played at Woodlands stadium in Lusaka.
2008 FAZ PREMIER LEAGUE
WEEK 1
15/03/2008
Zesco United- Roan United
Konkola Blades- Green Buffaloes Chambishi – Nchanga Rangers
Nkwazi- Kabwe Warriors
Green Eagles- City of Lusaka
Zanaco- Power Dynamos
Nkana- Lusaka Dynamos
Red Arrows- Young Arrows
FAZ DIVISION 1
NORTH
WEEK 1
16/03/2008
Prison Leopards- Chindwin
Mufulirra Blackpool- Mining Rangers
Kitwe United- Mufulira Wanderers
Indeni- Ndola United
Kalewa – Tazara Express
Muchindu- Medical Stars
Lime Hotspurs- Afrisports
Zamtel – Forest Rangers
SOUTH
16/03/2008
WEEK 1
Lusaka Celtic- Lusaka Tigers
Lusaka City Council- Livingstone Pirates
Kalomo Jetters- Zamcoal Diggers
Kambuku Warriors- Chilanga Heroes
Young Green Eagles- Petauke United
Builders Brigade- Profund Warriors
National Assembly- Namupundwe
Mazabuka United- Riflemen
Young Buffaloes- Nakambala Leopards
Another resource-wasting opening for FAZ. Most times Zambia enters these soccer competitions but never taken seriously and end up being prematurely booted out at the finals. If I may ask where do we go wrong and who is to blame. Like now do we have the local players to compete? If the answer is yes, what does it take to round them up? Someone will be saying that the national soccer governing body needs finances to effectively deliver. FAZ always looks up to Govt for these resources. I believe that FAZ should have the capability to think business and generate at least 33% of the financial resources for at least financing these national team.
In its current form, it is doubtful that FAZ could take up this challenge. As soccer councillors go to the FAZ general assembly, they should take the opportunity to put together a team (FAZ executive) that has business ideas of developing soccer in the nation. I remember vividly that late Michael Mwape was moving in that direction when he was FAZ president. May His Soul Rest in Eternal Peace. It is a challenge to the soccer councillors to look through the eyes of those aspiring to office in FAZ.
Interesting exclusive news you have here Lusaka Times. I like the idea of this competition. Many times there are players out there who have yet to be fully tested at international level, and are very capable of pulling it off, waiting for their opportunity to prove so. I think Patrick Phiri should coach or at least watch from the front row, it can only be beneficial for everyone. I think it’s possible and we should look to do well in this competition.
If I’m mistaken, most Zambia National Team players are home based. We have a good chance of doing better this time around.
The Chan aside. I want to talk about the faz presidency. I believe Hanif Adams is the best man for the job. Kalusha has done great things for Zambia but he has little experience at this level. He can not just move from being the coach of Zambia to being the president of faz in two years!!!!!
Everything about soccer in Zambia sucks.
If we cant reach the final of this CHAN of theres’,then i suggest we concentrate our efforts on other sporting disciplines like poaching and perhaps fishing.