Friday, March 29, 2024

Visa Hitch Delays SA-based Players Departure For UK

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Five South African-based players called-up for Wednesday friendly international against Ghana in London are likely to only arrive in the British capital hours before the game.

This is after the five could not file their UK visa applications today Monday at the British High Commission in Pretoria because the mission was closed for a South African public holiday.

August 9 is National Womens Day in South Africa.

Faz communications officer Erick Mwanza said the players visa’s will be issued on Tuesday and the players expected to fly out to London later on the same day.

The five include the goalkeeping duo of Kennedy Mweene and Kalililo Kakonje of Free State Stars and Amazulu respectively.

The rest are defender Joseph Musonda of Lamontville Golden Arrows, midfielder Noah Chivuta from Maritzburg united and Felix Katongo who has just secured a deal with Mamelodi Sundowns.

Mwanza said the European based players were currently making their way to London while the home and Israel-based players will travel from Lusaka to London tonight.

Zambia face Ghana in the London East End at Brisbane Road with kickoff scheduled for 19:45 GMT.

It will be Zambia’s first match in London since 1993 when they played Queens Park Rangers in a warm-up match that they won 2-1.

17 COMMENTS

  1. This is Zambian administrators at their best. You mean no one knew that August 9 was a public holiday in RSA? God help mother Zambia!

  2. Worse of money sending players at A short note without 1-2wks training together to promote team spirit. They will be too tire after a long flight = losing the match.

    And since this will be a friendly match the coach should have let the 3 Zesco players stay in camp for Sudan encounter which is a must win or EXIT

  3. Why did they not put in their VISA applications three, or two weeks ago at the least. They should play hard because scouts and European teams shall be watching these games, the one in London in particular.

  4. I don’t see why this is even a problem. Just get Zambians studying or working in England to make up the numbers. Even females, kuti ya pasa. It’s not as if there’s a difference in skills between a Zambian footballer and a post-graduate student.

  5. The seven have left for S.A. Should visa be ready thet the whole team leaves together at 19:30 hours assuming bookings were done. SO they should make the team. Infatc the FAZ top brass were in Jozi for Kalu’s wedding which included the who is who of African football. Among the VIP’s wereFIFA president Sepp Blatter, multi millionnaire Patrice Motsepe of the Brazilians(Mamelodi Sundowns) fame, Tokyo Sexwale, Zinzi Mandela, Lucas radebe just to mention a few.
    We know thjey will be jet-lagged but its the best we could do with the limited resources and time. At leats RH will have chance to test how they can play. He has a huge task to seal Kalaba’s vacuum and assess Sinkala and others. Good luck boys. King Kalu will enjoy the honeymoon in style as he watches the boys do battle with Ghana.

  6. I don’t want to remember the 9 – 0 bashing we had at the handz of some Belgian team. Withis lukstre arrangement of travel to UK and NOT Kitwe, Chililabombwe or Kabwe, my heart may jump in the mouth. Any way, once great GBFC and Red Arrowz uzed to fly playerz onto the pitch minutes before the game. Then goal boiz, and do it for mother Zambia!

  7. Heads must roll! Such poor planning for such a high profile friendly. Someone HASNT done their job properly. Such bullshit must not be accepted anymore folks….

  8. Zambian football will not GO any where with KALU at the Helm. Faz needs to be led by someone with better organisation skills ,the man is LOST

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