FAZ’s Kamanga Addresses Covid-19 Crisis

FAZ president Andrew Kamanga has authored a special column for the Association this week looking at the Covid-19 pandemic crisis.

Three months on since the resulting suspension of football activities, “It has not been an easy three months as we have daily been inundated by regular calls of when football could return,” Kamanga notes.

“We have as much as possible tried to provide updates in collaboration with the information relayed to us by the Ministry of Health. The corona virus is such that no one could have prepared for the devastation that it has caused across the globe. But we are happy that things are beginning to look up with several measures incorporated to ensure that the world continues to embrace the new normal.”

However, Kamanga cautions against dropping the guard, with cases on the rise elsewhere, and stresses that the threat remains real.

Noting the progress in the opening up of areas of the economy and sports such as golf and tennis, Kamanga writes that he is hopeful for a return to football shortly, albeit with restrictions.

“We continue to keep our hope from the football fraternity that our engagement with the authorities will soon yield a return to football. We are mindful that this is not expected to be a blanket opening of the games,” the FAZ President explains.

According to Kamanga FAZ has proposed a number of measures designed to address the threat of the pandemic that could be introduced once matches are allowed to resume. These have been shared with both the African Confederation of Football (CAF) and the local authorities.

These include the playing of games behind closed doors and the utilisation of stadiums with appropriate facilities.

“Our number one option is to ensure that the games are played behind closed doors. This will enable us to complete the remainder of our 2019/2020 season games,” Kamanga notes.

“To do this we have proposed that the games be played at selected venues that fit the safety and health measures that we have suggested,” he continues.

According to Kamanga the Association has been monitoring measures put in place in other leagues, including the Bundesliga, in order to inform their planning and recommendations on the matter.

“Our second option was to allow teams play an equal number of games in order to decide who wins the league or slides into relegation. However, we are conscious of the fact that most of our clubs have been desirous to see the winner of the league crowned from playing all the games. All these remain options that we have put on the table with the most extreme one being calling off the league completely,” Kamanga sets out.

“We appeal to all our members to remain calm as we engage the authorities on the re-opening of our league. We may have to consider optimal more ways of concluding our lower leagues given that the Covid-19 threat remains present and the pressure of having to implement the stringent safety measures demanded of such an undertaking,” he concludes.

Hopeful that the sport will soon return Kamanga cautions fans that it should be remembered that is not worth the loss of life.