President Rupiah Banda has handed over two Toyota Hilux double cab vehicles and a 30 seater Toyota Coaster minibus worth US$ 155,000 to the Football Association of Zambia (FAZ).
The two vehicles, which are worth US$50,000, will be used by Zambia National Soccer Team coach, Herve Renard and his assistant coach, Patrice Beaumile, while the minibus will be used by the soccer team.
Making the handover at State House today, President Banda paid tribute to Toyota Zambia for donating a bus worth US$105,000 and First Quantum Minerals (FQM) for the two vehicles and the both worth US$ 50,000.
The two Toyota Hilux vehicles were bought from the US$475,000, which the President raised from FQM recently.
Mr. Banda noted that the donation of the vehicles and the resolve by FQM to pay salaries for Renard and Beaumile from March this year to July next year, would boost the moral of the football team and the coaching staff.
He said the gesture was a typical kind of Public Private Partnership (PPP) initiative in the area of sport.
“What is taking place today is as a result of the PPP initiative in the area of sport,” he said.
The President pointed out that the Zambian people had a passion for soccer , hence his request to the private sector to help government support the national soccer towards qualifying to the 2010 FIFA world cup in South Africa.
“I feel honored and privileged that many companies have responded positively to my appeal to compliment government effort in order to ensure that our national football team qualifies to the world cup,” he said.
Mr. Banda also thanked other companies that have pledged and donated towards the support to the football team.
The companies that have donated include Konkola Copper Mines (KCM) which pledged US$120,000, Zambia Breweries US$140,000, Auto World and Finance Bank which donated K20 million each, Southern Sun Ridgeway Hotel, Intercontinental Hotel, Multichoice, Natsave, BP-Zambia, Standard Chartered Bank and other companies.
President Banda has since appealed to other companies to come on help the national soccer team.
And FQM Resident director, Lamaswala Kwalela said although times were hard for the mining industry in Zambia, his company felt duty bound to contribute towards the welfare of the soccer team.
Mr. Kwalela has since urged other companies to join in sponsoring the national soccer team and FAZ.
Meanwhile, Toyota Zambia Managing Director, Andrew Marshall pledged his company’s commitment to support the national team regardless of its performance.
FAZ vice president, Emmanuel Munaile, said the donation marked the turning point of the association that would motivate the national team players and staff to do their best.
Mr. Munaile said “The road ahead is difficult but it is not impossible”.
He sincerely thanked the President for fund raising for the national team and said, “We will not disappoint you”.
Coach Renard also thanked the President and promised best results from the team.
And Sports Minister, Kenneth Chipungu said the national team and the coaching staff will now have no excuse for poor performance in their soccer outings.
ZANIS/KSH/ENDS.
Good that RB loves soccer. Baiche no losing you have a bus to ferry you from Lusaka to Konkola and you will use the same bus going to Angola. Why go by air to Angola when you can use the north western province route via Maheba refugee camp. all the best.
great,go boys to S/A.
# 2 uli mwana wakwitu yowoya. i forget that there is 2010 world cup for Zambia damn me.
Great news!!! The Chipolopolo need all the support that they can get.
Its Zambia Vs Brazil in the 2010 World Cup Final.lol. Goodluck boyz
Chipungu can you explain how the three vehicles donated to the national team will affect the players on the field of play? If I where Banda I will solicite for money and identify tall, fit and talented strikers in Zambia and sell them to europian or brazilian teams so as to sharpen there skills. We need aggrasive strikers at goal. Find them at any cost.
So RB was serious after all. Twatotela. Manje i hope there wont be abuse of these vehicles as we have seen how our police service make it a point to destroy new cars. Or maybe i should blame it on the craters on our roads! But this is good sign the boys (or men) should feel encouragement lyonse lyonse.
Thanx RB! but abaiche aba makula!
We are going nowhere…..pls save us fm heart attacks……..we do not want another death like the Mumbwa one?????
Good move RB pls try and prove yourself to the Zambian people like levy did. Otherwise chipolopolo we expect nothing less than Zambia vs Brazil!!!
Hey wake guys !!! I thought Herve Renard’s assistant was George Lwandamina how do they end up giving a fitness coach the other car ??????? I need answers !
Thanks RB, but more should be done to encourage more young pipo to enjoy sports. not just football, but other sports as well.
Thanks en am off.
i just hope that they do not give ka kalu the k750m,when they is no cup to telk about.
i hear rugby is now next to football,so what is RB going to do about it,they also need some cash.
he made some reckless remarks recently but so far I think this RB is doing his job well. the Post should now stop frustrating this guy so mother zed can move forward please.
Go Zambia go!!!!We are 4 you!!!