Andrew Kamanga must go, demands minister Lusambo
Lusaka province minister Bowman Lusambo has expressed disappointment at the dwindling fortunes of football in Zambia, and has lumped the blame on FAZ president Andrew Kamamga.
Lusambo said that he had not come to terms with the senior national team’s failure to qualify for AFCON for the second time, consecutively.
In a statement shared on his Facebook page, the minister said it was only prudent that the current FAZ executive steps down to save face.
“As a former football player and ardent football fan, I wish to join millions of Zambians in expressing my disappointment in the senior national team for failing to qualify for 2019 AFCON. The age group teams such as Under 23, Under 20 and Under 17 do not have any solid structures to talk about. The team has even flopped at COSAFA and CHAN. The female sides including the one participating at the ongoing Women AFCON in Ghana just registered a miserable loss to Nigeria, complicating its chances of qualifying to the World Cup. Reports of bailiffs at Football House paralysing operations are a regular occurrence and one expects progress like this?” he wondered.
“As the catalogue of failures keep piling up, it becomes non-negotiable that the current FAZ Executive led by President Andrew Kamanga should reassess its mandate, resign to save our beautiful game from the ugly misfortunes that have besieged it. President Kamanga, as leader of this sinking ship should take the blame, show leadership and step down. It is clear that he has failed to plan, he has failed to exhibit leadership, he has failed to inspire and he has lamentably failed to unite the football family. His tenure has been marred by resignations of key officials.”
Lusambo also echoed allegations surrounding operations at Football House, ranging from failure to clear the immediate former Chipolopolo coach Wedson Nyirenda his unpaid seven-month salaries to reduction of the association’s annual allocation from Zurich.
“Allegations that immediate past Chipolopolo Coach Wedson Nyirenda had gone unpaid for seven months have not been challenged by FAZ. Chipolopolo has been failing to play quality friendly matches even during sanctioned FIFA days. The FIFA audit found glaring irregularities resulting in Football House losing a good share of its annual allocation from Zurich. The much talked about KoPa kit has flopped, the team now appears like a Sunday afternoon social football team. It is now becoming agonisingly painful being a Chipolopolo fan,” lamented Lusambo.
Source: News Diggers