State House welcomes FIFA President in historic visit

President Hakainde Hichilema welcomed FIFA President Gianni Infantino to State House on 13 June, where a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed between FIFA and the Football Association of Zambia (FAZ).

The agreement promises to open a FIFA Technical Centre in Zambia, which will become a hub of activity in efforts to enhance the country’s football infrastructure and initiatives for coaches and football administrators.

President Hichilema pointed to the universal importance of football, not only as a sport which unites people from all around the globe, but as a major catalyst for business opportunities and job creation. Hichilema also encouraged the FIFA President to continue fostering harmony amidst football stakeholders and resolve any disputes through dialogue.

The FIFA President will also officially launch the FIFA-funded accommodation centre as part of the FIFA Forward program. The centre, a $300,000 investment by the organisation, will significantly reduce costs for teams, allowing more efficient preparation for international tournaments.

On 14 June, former President of the FAZ Kalusha Bwalya praised the standard of women’s football in Zambia.

He said, “The ladies’ game in Zambia has grown from strength to strength. There are some of the best players like Barbra and Rachel now campaigning in the US and many others. So it’s credit to the girls for pushing because Zambia is a footballing country, and I see the Chipolopolo, the girls are doing themselves proud for their families, for Zambia and I’m sure they’ll have a good outing.”

The Copper Queens played at the FIFA Women’s World Cup in 2023 and are returning to the Olympic Games for the second time.

In a post on Twitter/X, President Hichilema said, “it was wonderful to witness the MoU signing between FIFA and FAZ to establish a FIFA Technical Centre in Zambia, paving the way to footballing excellence in our country”.

The visit of Gianni Infantino underscores the growing partnership between FIFA and Zambia, giving promising expectations for the future of football in Zambia.