President Hakainde Hichilema stepped in to augment the challenges of the Copper Queens by directing FAZ and the ministry of sports to expand their Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to cover sponsorship for women football.
And FAZ president Andrew Kamanga has requested the Head of State to facilitate for state institutions to embrace the Chipolopolo bond as it will wipe out some of the financial challenges being experienced in the management of the game.Meanwhile Copper Queens star Hazel Nali pleaded with President Hichilema to incentivize women football as it was not supported outside FAZ.
During an interaction with the Morocco bound Africa Women’s Cup of Nations Copper Queens at State House, Hichilema also directed sports minister Elvis Nkandu to hand-over a 76-seater but to the team to ease their transport burdens.
The Copper Queens were at State House at the invitation of the First Lady Mutinta Hichilema in honour of their qualification to the AWCON that will be held in Morocco in July.
“So, what bus do they use? Minister, are you able to commit that the bus will be available? (Minister responds Yes), So I have committed (76-seater bus),” Hichilema said.
The Head of State advised FAZ and the ministry to refine their MoU that covers support for the senior Men’s National Team to also include support to women.
“Let us start working (on MoU), put it in writing, we should not even be working like FAZ and us, we are one and should develop this MOU as a team, government is these people, government is FAZ, government is the ministry. So let us get it done,” he said.
“We have a budget for that, let us look at that, here I can say we will look for money somewhere. Let them camp until they go.”
“Let’s prepare them, we take decisions on how we support them. I think it’s unfair not to support the women when we are supporting the men so I think we are on the right track, we are really proud of you and we will give you our support as much as possible.”
Sports minister Elvis Nkandu said he had already opened the door for FAZ to adjust the MoU that sees government support the Chipolopolo and pay part of the salary for the men’s team head coach to the tune of USD10, 000.
Meanwhile Kamanga said FAZ was also desirous of making itself financially independent to ease the burden on government.
“Your excellency, one of the areas we are looking at is raising the Chipolopolo bond, we understand government has limitations and priorities, but football has the potential to sustain itself. We are looking to raise a USD10 million Chipolopolo bond which we hope will go a long way,” he said.
“We are making a presentation to the PS on Monday, hopefully we can get traction with the minister of finance so that through Napsa and the pension funds can subscribe to the product then we will be able to redeem it.”
He added: “From our end, we understand government can come in, but we are also not sitting back, we equally need that push, if we can raise our funds that would really help to mitigate most of the challenges.”
And Nali called for more support to the women’s game especially from government.
She said that women footballers felt they received very little support especially that most of the players were breadwinners for their families.
The Copper Queens have qualified for the Africa Women’s Cup of Nations (AWCON) after edging out Namibia 1-1 on away goals rule.
Zambia will be among the 12 teams in Morocco that will be battling for the continent’s biggest showpiece.
Top four teams at the AWCON will qualify to the World Cup that will be held in Australia and New Zealand next year.
Two more teams will be involved in play-offs with teams from other continents.
The tournament will run from July 3-23 in Morocco.
[FAZ]
Some institutions are useless mwe. I say this because it shouldn’t take a whole President for the ministry of sports to recognize and support what these amazing women have done over the years. Even a bus mwebantu!!! Even a bus requires a presidential order? Just a few weeks ago the sports ministry, I think the PS, was saying there were not going to commit anymore funds to support Asanovic’s salary. This is poor governance at its finest. Smdh
I’m going to change to negative thinking mwe