THE Government is disappointed with the chaos that surrounded the national soccer team’s trip to London last Wednesday where the Chipolopolo Boys played Ghana and has since given the Sports Council of Zambia 10 days in which to submit a detailed report.
Sport, Youth and Child Development Minister, Kenneth Chipungu who was flanked by Permanent Secretary, Susan Sikaneta, said at a Press briefing in Lusaka yesterday, the team’s outing to London had a lot of irregularities that had promoted a lot of speculation in the nation.
Chipungu said he was particularly disappointed with the management style of FAZ as the national team’s happenings, especially the London trip, was of national interest.
The minister was dismayed that the Government spent close to K300 million on air tickets for the London trip for 10 players and officials instead of the 20 players that FAZ had initially indicated would travel and wondered why the technical bench had to mobilise three players from the Zambian community in London to feature for the Chipolopolo to meet the required number.
Chipungu said it was disappointing that after the fundraising committee for the national team formed by President Rupiah Banda and spearheaded by Sikaneta, Zanaco (Rabbo Bank) after Zambia’s 2-0 loss to Algeria in Chililabombwe last June, had pledged to finance the team’s camping in Holland prior to the joint 2010 World/Africa Cup qualifier against Algeria scheduled for September 6.
“We are very disappointed with FAZ. They are making programmes without consulting the ministry. The problem is that they want to operate like an independent body forgetting that they fall under a ministry,” he said.
“To the SCZ, I wish to stress that the report must be handed over to me within 10 days prior to the pending camping for the senior national team in order to avoid a recurrence of this unfortunate development,” Chipungu said.
“As this matter has a lot of grey areas prompting a number of speculation among sportsmen and women, I hereby direct the Spots Council of Zambia to submit a detailed report on the London outing by the senior national team. You are all aware that as a ministry we are not supposed to interfer in the running of football in the country, otherwise FIFA will blame us.
“However, it must be appreciated that the Government spent close to K300 million on this trip, hence the concern. As a ministry we are equally disappointed like the other soccer fans.
“Three weeks before the scheduled Holland camping, we learnt that FAZ had secured a friendly match against Ghana in London. This came to our knowledge simply because FAZ had to send a request to the ministry to finance the trip,” he said.
He said he did not blame Zanaco for withdrawing their financial support because of the short notice given by FAZ, considering that there were other partners that the bank had wanted to bring on board.
And natonal soccer team coach, Herve Renard said the 4-1 defeat the Chipolopolo Boys suffered at the hands of Ghana on Wednesday night in London was not a game worth talking about because Zambia did not feature its best players.
Renard said in a brief interview in Lusaka yesterday afternoon shortly after arriving from London that he was not in a position talk about the match and could only do so after meeting the FAZ executive and other relevant authorities.
He said protocol demands that one first briefs his employers on what transpired in London before he could do the same to the rest of the Zambian soccer fraternity through the media.
[Times of Zambia]
I think FAZ owes the govt an explanation. Why was london chosen any way? we could have played a team like Libya , Morocco in North Africa. WE could have killed two birds with one stone. Familiarising ourselves with Arabic footbal and acclamatising to the weather. Since our next game is in North Africa and we are playing an Arab country
Nothing ever works in Zambia, nothing. George Kasengele was busy dancing to “Ndombolo” for Kalu’s wedding rehearsals, forgetting that there was an issue of Visas. The UK is not like Congo where you say tukalanda nabo bakaboke.
Meanwhile, Hanif Adams was frustrated by people who have made sport “akaliilo” forcing him to step down. You tried Hanif, you tried.
Lossing a friendly game is not the end of the future game plan,it just open the eyes of the coach and the technical officials.We still have a chance because we have games ahead and in football every thing is possible.Demanding for a comprehensive report from FAZ will not help any one…Mind you football has died in Zambia due to GOVT.policies,FAZ lack of focus and control on players, lack of infrustructure,and the premature selling of players to weak footbaling nations such as S.AFRICA .PLEASE MR.GOVT. dont treat FAZ like ponds in the game of chase.The blame is on …….
Ba FAZ balebako serious. Wasting tax payers money for nothing. Like #1 has put it they should have camped in North Africa if at all they didnt want to be camped in Zambia. Heads should roll
Kalusha personally was an excellent player but not an excellent sports administrator. Please, lets be level headed when dealing in soccer issues. The govt is a partner you cant just ignore.
#2 Yes losing friendly game is not the end but you need to lose with your full team so that every is asssesed.Thats the all purpose of the friendly to work on your system and gauge your players.But how can u do this with reserve players and students.this is a shame.
Ken should stop talking if he got nothing to politik. Its too late tocry over spilled milk. That is the way we do things in Zambia. We do things at 11th hr. Algeria is busy in serious preparations whilst we are still finger pointing. When is independence stadium going to completed that is story we would like to hear. FAZ yes we asked for it. We voted out vetran administrators like Teddy Mulonga and team and brought in a bunch of guys without tested administrative skills. What a shameful move. All they know is being arrogance and giving empty statements. How on earth let Zesco United competing in an important tournament go to Sudan without being accompanied by FAZ official?
What is there to explain? As if it would reverse the results? As #2 has outlined, let’s just draw our conclusion from the loss and preserve our energy by focussing on the games ahead.
Look at the positives….10 men held a strong Ghana in the second half. The Zambian Number 4 is quality & good enogh to play in Uk.. The referee killed th e game with the sending off…..
THIS WAS A TOTAL DISASTER, DEMONSTRATED POOR ADMINSTRATION, LACK OF FORESIGHT AND AN EMBARASSMENT TO THE SOCCER FANS. IT SHOULD BE STRESSED THAT FAZ DID NOT DO THEIR HOMEWORK WELL, GOVT DID NOT INTERVENE, AND THE CHOICE OF THE MATCH (LONDON) FAVOURED GHANAIANS PLAYERS WHOSE MAJORITY HAD NO PROBLEMS IN SECURING VISAS. THE WAY FOWARD NOW IS TO PICK UP THE PIECES, LEARN FROM MISTAKES AND MOVE ON BEFORE THE MATCH AGAINST ALGERIA . THERE IS NO NEED TO KEEP CRYING AND THINKING OF WHAT MIGHT HAVE BEEN….IT WAS TYPICAL ZAMBIAN MIND SET, ALWAYS AT THE LAST MINUTE AND THINKING A GOOD SAMARITAN WILL DELIVER FOR THE NATION.
Even if Zambia had won that game the shambolic arrangement would still have to be explained. It’s not so much the rezult that matterz, but the well organized preparation of the team. Govt. should write to FIFA ask why disciplinary axion should not be taken against the FAZ executive for subjecting the country to such embarrassment.
lwenu , you have been warned, if you touch Kalu, you can kiss international football in Zambia Goodbye. It will only take one fone call to Sepp Blater, actually its two fone calls, one from Mrs Kalu to sepp blater and Zambia willbe sunk
We blame Banda and the govn but its clear no one pa Zed can manage anything well.The question is why do we put people who can not deliever in almost every office? Iam made to believe we are a country with useless lot. 7 out of 10 Zambian can not produce result.Shame and i mean really shame to the nation.I know you do not want to hear this but sorry iam not here to tell you only what you want to hear otherwise what are we good at???
FAZ should have chosen a team in SA like Mamelodi Sundown or Kaizer Chiefs,used road transport to RSA cheap lodging,train in mordern facilities etc..we Africans still have a fascination for europe ,just look at the amount of money wasted,later on the embarrasment of being whacked ,this is a stupid move and serves as a lesson……….
For those of you who have seen the Godfather will understand that in a mafia family, each member has a specific role. Some are shooters and that’s the entire they can ever be. Some are planners and that all they can ever be. If you changed these roles, the whole family shakes, for the shooter cannot make the brains and the other way round. Kalu was a get shooter, but we gave him the role of the brains. The result is that he will subdue any potential brain in his camp. We have ourselves to blame.
For those of you who have seen the Godfather will understand that in amafia family, each member has a specific role. Some are shooters and that’s the entire they can ever be. Some are planners and that all they can ever be. If you changed these roles, the whole family shakes, for the shooter cannot make the brains and the other way round. Kalu was a get shooter, but we gave him the role of the brains. The result is that he will subdue any potential brain in his camp. We have ourselves to blame
what is there to explain when everything is self evident. corruption is the norm of this country! viva the land where there is no moral shame!
Explanation for what, FAZ is government you failed to do your job by organizing a formidable team to get good results,how embarasing that you could as a nation run around london look for any zambian male who can kick soccer to play that day and you demand an explanation
Mr Bwalya needs to explain what his mafazi are doing.
As bad as FAZ are at organising football in Zambia, this is particular saga was the government’s fault. The government has no business wasting tax payer’s money on football. If FAZ cannot run football then let us not have a national team. I for one would rather this money was spent on a school or hospital. There are many council workers who have not been payed their salaries for close to a year and yet here we are wasting money on a pointless trip!
A lot of people were critical of this trip from the time it was mooted. As usual chi RB and his bunch of half wits refused to listen. We all know that FIFA does not like government interference in football. FAZ should have been left to organise this on their own. As usual, this was used by opportunists to line their own pockets. FAZ must first sort out the domestic game before even entertaining ideas of winning the CAN.
Kenny C should just shut up. GOVT could have facilitated to aquisition of visas in some way. The players were attending to special national duty. When the army is going for the UN missions,special duty, they are facilitated to get visas and all the needed documents,are they not? Chipungu should be talking about the money they have been talking about for building ultrs modern stadia in Zambia. Don’t blame FAZ or the Coach. After all football is not a mater of life and death. We should be woried more about people dying in poorly financed social services in the country. Football and other sports have their place in society yes. But they can’t be if there is no healthy citizenry.
Visas Visas Visas. The problem was well documented. The minister and officials managed. Some players within Europe shunned the game. Others failed ku kamba chizungu. Me visa go bulaya. You mean getting a visa needs the attention of FAZ or Government. The players have no initiative and are un patriotic. PERIOD.
Gentlemen, Lets forget about ba Zambia..Zesco United beat El Merreik of Sudan 3-2 away in Khaortoum..Is that Wonderful??? VIVA ZESCO
BIG LET DOWN,THE COACH DID NOT HAVE THE PLAYERS HE WANTED FOR THE GAME.I WONDER WHO HE WILL FIELD FOR THE NEXT GAME.
Kalusha’s day of reckoning is near! Zambians are obsessed with his past glory as a player, reality isadministration wise, he is a misfitand corrupt. its’s the Zambians themeselves who will get fed up of him and chuck him out, personnally Ian happy that he is FA Z President and continues to expose himself, because character cannot be hidden,it is like pregnancy.
No. 2 should be reasonable. About K300, 000.00 can build a low cost clinic with a small life line of basic medicines… It is this kind of thinking that draws Zambia 10 decades behind when the rest of the world is moving forward.
Wrong no: You guys do you need lectures? There people who are employed and get paid for that. It is easier to get a visa if the the govt writes a letter thru foreign affairs. More if there is an accompanying letter from FAZ about supporting the application… It would be very sad if a person like you went into govt and made decisions…
Regarding FAZ and the humiliation when zambia lost 4-1 to ghana, Were are all of you who were crying Great kalu ,Great Kalu.. fyoo, fyoo for FAZ head. FAZ and all their officials were attending kalus wedding in joberg were he lives. The visa arrangments were a shambols. Its you same pipo who like voting for the uneducate to lead us that are causing us to move backwards. Kalu is an uneducated ego maniac. Faz has been in disarry ever since. He lives in SA and supposedly runs Zambian football from there. Now what have you losers who were crying Kalu for Faz, kalu for ZAZ got to say ?? Pleas country men and women even a shop manegr vacancy needs at least grade 12. Yet you expect the uneducate like Kalu to head major institutions like FAZ. You will suffer for ever.