We are disappointed by the unfortunate allegations and comments attributed to TP Mazembe president Moses Katumbi concerning the three Zambian players whom his club blocked from attending an important international match last week.
We’ve always enjoyed good relations with TP Mazembe which out of their own volition have decided to abrogate. TP Mazembe and Mr. Katumbi should engage in serious introspection and check the conduct of its officials before accusing FAZ of issues which are completely out of its jurisdiction.
Mr Katumbi’s comments over the players and their present plight clearly shows how uninformed he is over the processes and procedures of the association, matters of Zambian law and how we engage with different clubs and our nationals plying their trade in different parts of the world.
It is not in our interest and desire to exchange words with the club over a matter in which they acted unprofessionally and at variance with the rules of the game. The public may not be privy to some overtures from Mazembe who last week pleaded with the Association for review of the matter before FIFA and requested pardon; this we have not made known as well as other undertakings out of the mutual understanding we have previously enjoyed.
For the information of Mr Katumbi and Mazembe, what is presently happening to the three players is of concern to us as they face serious allegations before the Immigration Department; a situation caused by the actions of the club and its representatives. However, matters that impinge on the laws of the land are not under the jurisdiction of the Football Association of Zambia but subject to the Zambian constitution and implemented by various agencies of the state. We have no jurisdiction over the Immigration Department whatsoever and what they do is beyond us.
Further, FAZ is not in charge of controlling national borders, enforcing national security and immigration law. These are governed by relevant Acts of Parliament and enforced by authorities who as stated above are not subject to FAZ or FIFA’s laws of the game.
FAZ has no mandate to withdraw any player’s passport. We have never withdrawn any players’ passport or subjected any players to undue pressure or coerced them into actions that abrogate the law of the land or the laws of the game.
The withdrawal of the three Mazembe players’ passports was done by the Immigration Department who are acting under the established laws of the Republic of Zambia to which every Zambian is subject. This Department does not report to FAZ. Mazembe is free to report the Immigration authorities to FIFA if they so wish.
We sincerely hope they will not mislead the players into illegal court actions and petitions that would only jeopardize their careers.
From our end, this matter ended when we forwarded to FIFA our concern over Mazembe’s conduct and FIFA acted accordingly. We observed the football protocols and are satisfied with FIFA’s position and now we await the outcome of the matter which has been taken before the FIFA Disciplinary Committee for further consideration.
O. Erick Mwanza
Communications Manager & Spokesperson
Come on FAZ this story is old now,it was just a friendly match get over it,we sick and tired of the all crap.
on the contrary I think the position that FAZ has taken is right so as not to set a bad precedent. For me what would have been great in all this is to have some insight into what the position of the 3 players was vs their club. Did they also agree not to play for Zambia or they were not given a choice in the matter?
nonsensical by FAZ
Perhaps Mr Katumbi is insinuating that you could have done more (in helping) the players instead of taking a non belligerent approach
Those players needed your help and ridiculing you for your nonchalant approach is an acceptable approach.
Thanks
You also don’t understand Zambian law on immigration?
The match could be friendly as it was but a national duty maybe sir you didn’t know players are employed by government that they should comply to national demands, we have minister of sport as a representative of stackholders and the people of Zambia to ensure that discipline is respected by the players, mind you they get paid by the government.
They have got nothing at the moment to do all they can do is waste our time. God forbid. There is no issue here all what is there is FAZ have failed to reason. Get their passports so what? they told you they never crossed back and for sure where did you find them in Congo or within. Come on people be matured. FAZ stop the rot.
KATUMBI SHOULD SHOULD NOT BEHAVE
LIKE OUR ZAMBIAN LOOSE CANON, HH,
WHO SHOOTS WITHOUT AIMING!
Laws of the land got to be respected and followed by every Zambian citizen and indeed visitors.
So Kambwili “farting” to immigration to hold passports constitutes ZAMBIAN LAWS???? Passports were held BEFORE THEY WERE ALLEGED TO HAVE GONE BACK – ON WHAT BASIS WERE THEY HELD IN THE FIRST PLACE?????
People should stop barking about things they do not know!!
Well said, the Level of ignorance at T.P is seriously worrying, it is obvious that if these guys truly crossed the border without presenting to the immigration they were wrong they broke the law, and should be held accountable regardless, so If Katumbi has to report anyone to FIFA let him report the Immigration, and see if FIFA will have anything to say on that
This isn’t a surprise, is it? Just look at the state of affairs in the DRC, Moise Katumbi seems and acts like the “LAW UNTO HIMSELF” in that forsaken country! So it no wonder why he thinks Zambians should behave and act the same way?!
Katumbi is Irresponsible and unpatriotic………….
Moses Katumbi at one time also used the same plan when he was a wanted person here in zambia.
Ok. Katumbi and Congoleses are stupid and sinners.
Zambians, Kambwili, Mwanza are perfect and holy.
Faz is a perfect organisation.
Tell us where the boys are and when they are able to report for work.
My friend the trio have broken the law. They cannot easily go back for work. They might even be imprisoned.
we nsamba wee
We need to be humble and reflect on why a war-torn country like Congo has better football teams than us. All we want is to reap where we did not sow. Mazembe are giving our players much needed work and yet all we can do is call them ignorant and other names. Remember that Immigration only got involved on the orders from Kambwili – the sports minister. It is disingenuous to pretend that Immigration acted independently. We all know that our institutions only act on orders from the government.
The immigration department,just like the police and other state security wings have been mandated to interpret and enforce the law as enshrined in our constitution.They are duty bound to investigate and consequently take action on any information they receive whether coming from FAZ or the general public.Failure to do so will mean failing the nation in their department.Somebody needs to understand that this law applies everywhere in the world.
Some people are like football analysts who can even score 10 goals in the studio or commentary box when don’t even know how to kick the ball.When Christopher Katongo misses a penalty,they will call him all sorts of names and will say something like,”i knew he was not the right man to take the penalty,he is tired and he needs to retire”.But when he scores,the same analyst will tell you,”i saw it coming,if you allow Katongo to run from the Central midfield facing the defender,he is deadly,he has fast legs and he can create a goal out of nothing”.That’s what is happening in our society today.
no one is above the law…simple and straight forward…
Unfortunately, this article does not quote what Katumbi is supposed to have said.
The other question to reflect on is: why do we not have any Zambian players in the English premiership? Even lowly Kenya has one in Victor Wanyama. Congo has had a few. We need to be serious!!!
Serious about what, our laws or football?
Really, you are in the UK (flag) yourself, so why don’t you represent us in the English Premier League and we shall all go….clap, clap, clap for you! Better yet, why don’t you get back to Zambia and contribute to the efforts of grooming young footballers who can eventually break into the EPL, if that’s your goal!?
FAZ does not stop amusing me. They behave like a grade 7 trying to use deep english to someone with a masters in ENGLISH. Calm down FAZ and just do the right thing. We are nothing football wise. Let the boys get that talent sharpened up. Dont be big headed for nothing.
Pls forgive Katumbe and dot confuse him with these legal jargons. There are no laws in Zaire and those guys live like in a bush. There’s nothing his going to get frm u on wht parliament is or what u mean by mention of the word boarder
Katumbi is sucks and is a corrupt element whose ego is all about himself . Faz has nothing to do with passports or immigration. Katumbi wants to show that he is above the govt of Zambia is nothing . Punish the *****
Get Katumbi’s passport, who he think he is, Zambian gov’t donor?
ERIC uleke UBUFI!!!
Immigration HAD NO REASON TO HOLD THE BOYS PASSPORT AFTER THEY LANDED!! YOU Kolwes ENGINEERED THIS SITUATION TO FIX THE BOYS!!!
Ni mwe ba MUMBWE SANA!!!
some comments are so disappointing, how can 1 blame faz for this…its not about not showing up but breaking the law…get this into your heads…they may be great soccer players but their thinking failed them…and now they have to face the law and not even faz can save them..shame..school is very important in a person’s life
What law did they break?
More like getting it INTO YOUR HEAD!!!!!
@Naine Nandeko: We don’t know yet! Yes, at the end of the day we may find out that there were no immigration laws broken by these three boys. But we don’t know that, at least not before investigations have been completed. That’s why they have been prevented from leaving the country (Zambia) by confiscated their passports. We should all wait for appropriate investigations to be carried out by relevant authorities (The Immigration Department) to ascertain the truth. This is their job and what they are paid for after all!!!!
@ Naine Nandeko. It is by law that anyone leaving the country should do so through the immigration department. So in short the three players used dubious means to go back to Congo. This is punishable in the laws of Zambia. FAZ have nothing to do with this because they have no hand in the running of the immigration department.
No law was applied only Kambwili’s words. The boys should just look for a good lawyer and then can make alot of money alot of this gov’t. You all know that all cases the state has been taking to court ends in nolle …pro what whaterver.
KATUMBI AND MOBUTU CORRUPTION
Who said ‘when history repeats itself, it first is as a tragedy, then as a farce’?
Not surprisingly, CONGOLESE , with a remarkable sense of humour, had re-baptized KATUMBI’s TP MAZEMBE, known under the acronym TPM, as ‘MOBUTU’s boys Repeating Corruption’.
FAZ you are 110% correct on this issue
Do you know that this Katumbi you are insulting bought a aircraft for his club TP Mazembe? These 3 boys know why they want to stay in Congo and enjoy money.
Immigration is correct to do investigations.But question that has not been answered is why was there passports taken when they landed at KK airport
Assuming they went to congo after that using illegal means then surely they should be charged as such if proven.on the other hand it seems the guys rights were violated when there passports were grabbed in first place which was the root cause to all this. As much as the guys/TP played tricks so that they miss Brazil game;FAZ had no right to direct immigration to grab there passports in first place.just immagine u go back to Z on vacation and first thing yr passport gets taken because u refuse to do a project for some departmt in z. The precedent set of grabbing passports for players who refuse to play for national team may open padora box.
let the immigration do its work if these guys did indeed cross into congo without their passports thats a crime.its a danger unto themselves even.what if anything happened to them when that.the other thing is where is andre mtine he is the one who ochestrated all this.he surely knows more about this let him provide answers instead of interogating the boys for 5 hours.immigration be professional