Football Association of Zambia, FAZ president Andrew Kamanga says his administration will continue to invest in the grassroots to ensure that they meet the objectives of the 10 year strategic plan that targets appearances at five Africa Cup of Nations and FIFA World Cups.

Appearing on Flava FM via teleconference, Kamanga said that the conclusion of the 2019-2020 league will be decided once the covid-19 threat is conclusively projected by the authorities.
In a wide-ranging interview, Kamanga said investment was key in ensuring that Zambia returned to the summit of the continental game.

“Much as we want the results today, we should also be prepared to invest in order to reap. That is why, where we are sitting now, we have developed a 10-year development plan where we are saying in the 10 years from 2020-2030 we should see Zambia attending next five Africa Cups, we should now be able to go to the next two World Cups,” he said.

“We have been able to build from the bottom because ultimately our results have been showing with the junior teams. We have only struggled with the senior team but with the coming in of the coach (Milutin ‘Micho’ Sredojevic) who is there now, he is now spoilt for choice and is able to pick players from the junior teams whether it is under-17, 20, 23 and the CHAN team, blending it with those who are experienced then we start a new journey going forward.”

Kamanga said that Zambia need to have representation in elite leagues across the globe to ensure that the Chipolopolo competed favourably with top teams on the continent and beyond.
“Another issue which we need to look at is the fact that football is very competitive. Today we do not have any Zambian player in the EPL, Germany Bundesliga and Spanish League. We need to start getting our players in those leagues so that we can now compete at the same level. Once we get there then we can start arguing that we need to be at the Africa Cup, we need to at the World Cup.”

Kamanga noted that the crème of the Zambian players in Europe were in fringe leagues and needed to step up and ensure that the country was represented at the very top.

“Look at where we are, in Europe our best players are in Austria, we had two in Belgium, we have three in Russia and two in Sweden but we need to get our players in those competitive leagues then we can be able to start the whole journey,” he said.

“This is the process we have to accept, this may not give us the results today but it should be able to give us the results in the next 10 years.”
Kamanga said, “This is why we are saying that if we are investing in the next 10 years, it means a boy or girl who is eight years today is part of that strategy because in 10 years’ time they will be 18 and will have to be ready to play in the national team. So we should start preparing them today before we start talking about 2030.This is a long term view.”

The FAZ boss said with junior teams and the local assemblage of Chipolopolo players had already given an indication of what grassroots investment can do.

“We are comforted by the fact that our investments in the grassroots has paid off. We have delivered results at under-17, 20, and 23 we have qualified twice to the CHAN, we are the Cosafa champions at senior level,” he said.
“On the women level we were at 2018 AWCON and have qualified for the Olympic Games for the first time, we are the best in Africa when it comes to that particular tournament. You can’t just write us off that everything we have done has amounted to nothing.”

Kamanga said the decentralization exercise would give selectors of national teams a wider pool of players to pick from.
“This is where we have now said with the decentralization it is going to be easier because you want cast your net wide because in the 10 provinces you are now going to have an u15, 17, 19 and u21,” he said.

“If each province has got a team, you are looking at 220 players or 230 possibilities for you to make a team of 23. Going forward if we had that set up it means that at any given time, the coach can be looking for new players to add in.”
Kamanga also said that FAZ had made a bold step to contribute $15, 000 towards the $25, 000 pay check for the Chipolopolo coach.

Government that previously footed the full pay for Chipolopolo coaches will contribute $10, 000.

“I am actually surprised that you have not even mentioned that for the first time, the FAZ has committed resources to pay the national coach in addition to what the government is paying. Ultimately if we were financially independent that is a matter that the FAZ should be able to address,” he said.
“”That aside, that even now within the limitations of what we have we are able to contribute $15, 000 to the coach’s salary is a good start.”

On the covid-19 effect on the league, Kamanga said a decision will be made once the authorities gave an indication on whether the pandemic was slowing down or not.
“I think the necessary decisions will be made which will be in the interest of football. Until we have a clear picture of where we are and where we need to go, we will be able to come out with concrete decisions which will address the underlying challenges,” he said.

“For instance today as we speak we do not know whether the situation will remain the same for the next two weeks or one month or two months.”
The FAZ chief reiterated FIFA’s guidance that his executive will remain in office until the elective Annual General Meeting is held.

He also set the record straight on former Chipolopolo coach Sven Vandenbroeck dragging Zambia to FIFA over his $22, 000 unpaid dues.
“The background to that is this is a coach (Sven) who was being paid by the government. Obviously I think at some point there was a statement when his initial claim was put out, there was a commitment but obviously it is something which I cannot comment on now,” he said.

The Kamanga presidency has seen heavy investments in grassroots and women football with Zambia sweeping Cosafa titles at under-17, 20 and senior men while the Copper Queens qualified to the Olympic Games for the first time.

Kelvin Trudeau Musako

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