The Football Association of Zambia has suspended the entire U17 national Soccer team technical bench following the disqualification of the Team from on going COSAFA U17 Championships in Mauritius. This is according to a post on the Association’s Official Facebook page.
correspondence from the Council of Southern Africa Football Associations (Cosafa) that two Zambian players Nicholas Mulilo and Benjamin
Phiri were being summoned for Magnetic Resonance Image (MRI) following complaints from two teams about possible age violations.
The tests were carried out by Mauritian medical authorities under the supervision of a Confederation of African Football (CAF) certified
doctor. The results showed evidence that the two players in question have been found to be over the age of 17 years and therefore non eligible to participate in this category. As a result in accordance with Cosafa regulations is disqualified from the tournament.
Prior to departure, the U-17 team underwent medical tests at a recognised medical facility in
Lusaka and Of the 26 players, 20 were passed as meeting the requirements for U17 competition. It is these 20 players who travelled to Mauritius.
At present the Football Association of Zambia is seeking clarification about the processes and methodology used in the testing following the outcome of the second test in Mauritius.
Here is the Full Press Statement
“PRESS STATEMENT ON DISQUALIFICATION OF
ZAMBIA U17 MEN’S NATIONAL FOOTBALL TEAM FROM 2016 COSAFA U17 CHAMPIONSHIPS
LUSAKA, 29 JULY, 2016 – On Tuesday 26th July
the Football Association of Zambia (FAZ) received correspondence from the Council of Southern Africa Football Associations (Cosafa) that two Zambian players Nicholas Mulilo and Benjamin Phiri were being summoned for Magnetic Resonance Image (MRI) following complaints from two teams about possible age violations.
The tests were carried out by Mauritian medical authorities under the supervision of a Confederation of African Football (CAF) certified
doctor. The results showed evidence that the two players in question have been found to be over the age of 17 years and therefore non eligible to
participate in this category. As a result in accordance with Cosafa regulations is disqualified from the tournament.
Prior to departure, the U-17 team underwent medical tests at a recognised medical facility in
Lusaka and Of the 26 players, 20 were passed as meeting the requirements for U17 competition. It is these 20 players who travelled to Mauritius.
At present the Football Association of Zambia is seeking clarification about the processes and methodology used in the testing following the outcome of the second test in Mauritius.
This morning the Emergency Committee of the Football Association of Zambia met and made the following decisions:
1. The full technical bench of the U17 team is suspended to allow for a comprehensive investigation into the matter. These are Head Coach Osward Mutapa, Assistant Coaches Perry
Mutapa and Charles Bwale, Goalkeeper Coach Kalililo Kakonje, Team Doctor Mwila Lupasha,
Team Physiotherapist Ephraim Mphanza and the Team Manager Collins Phiri.
2. The suspension of Executive Committee Member Kabaso Kapambwe who was the delegation leader, will be referred to the
Executive Committee for determination in line with the FAZ Constitution.
Ponga Liwewe
GENERAL SECRETARY
