The Football Association of Zambia (FAZ) was scheduled to hold their elective Annual General Meeting on Saturday at Fairmount Hotel in Livingstone but due to a court order the meeting could not take off.
The world football governing body FIFA dispatched a delegation led by Deputy Chief Member Associations Officer Gelson Fernandes to observe the AGM. Fernandes was accompanied by FIFA Senior Member Associations’ Governance Manager Ahmed Harraz.
The Confederation of African Football (CAF) also sent high-level representatives, with Director of the Member Association Division Sarah Mukuna and Director of Legal Affairs Felix Majani in attendance.
At the regional level, the Council of Southern Africa Football Associations (COSAFA) has deployed its Executive Director Sue Destombes and COSAFA Vice President and Chairman of Competitions Timothy Shongwe, who arrived in Zambia on Friday afternoon.
Gelson Fernandes who spoke to the media in Livingstone expressed sadness that the meeting could not go ahead due to the court orders.
Fernandes was quick to mention that Zambia was a big footballing nation with a lot of talent which is what brought him and his delegation to the country.
“Just quickly, you know, tough night, I would say, for us. The FIFA delegation, CAF delegation and COSAFA delegation are one delegation. It’s one football family. We came to oversee the election or elective congress, the AGM. Unfortunately, we will go to the venue right after. Seems that it will not happen,” he said.
“So, yeah, that’s a pity, but we have to respect what happened, the incidents that happened. And then we will certainly report to our General Secretariat about what is going on and about the past and about certainly the future of this situation. We are pretty much united, very much united.”
“The African Football Confederation and us, we are aligned in this and my colleagues here made the trip because we think, we believe Zambia is a big football federation as well. It’s a country with a lot of talent and we are here for that. You know, it’s sad,” he added.
Fernandes reiterated FIFA’s position of pushing for development and bemoaned the incidents that preceded the failed AGM.
“I mean, honestly, our leadership always pushes for football development and when it comes to governance issues this way, it’s not what should be and what should be expected. So, we observed, we seen and we will report accordingly and take measures that need to be taken,” he said.
“Well, we always say that, and I will leave the floor to our governance people here, but the General Assembly is the most democratic meeting that can take place and this one will not take place.
So, it’s an issue and it’s third party interference, obviously, because it’s nothing to do with football, but my colleague here from CAF and Ahmed from the governance will be maybe more detailed. Maybe we will not enter into this right now, but certainly it’s a governance issue because the two meetings are not happening, which is a problem. But maybe Ahmed or Felix would like to say something about it.”
Meanwhile FIFA Senior Member Associations’ Governance Manager Ahmed Harraz said; Thank you very much, Gelson and my colleagues. We came as observers for the General Assembly and it has come to our attention that it will not take place. That basically implies that there are some issues here and there, which unfortunately mean that the Assembly cannot take place.”
“Of course, we have to look at the reasons and the documentation behind this and see what the CAF and FIFA start to say about this and come up with recommendations. But for now, we have to look at the documentation, go through them, study and then see what kind of issues are brought about in this situation.”
“And just to add from my side that at FIFA and also obviously in collaboration with CAF, we have communicated letters regarding the position from FIFA in agreement with CAF regarding how this congress should take place or this AGM should take place. However, it appears from the feedback we received, there was an insistence to do it in a different way, which we would have rather proceeded as we usually work with our member associations. But yeah, as Mr. Gelson Fernandez explained, the situation will be assessed, the reports will be submitted internally. There are injunctions that stopped in a very short duration the AGM from taking place.
After almost all the delegates have arrived, after the FIFA, GAF and COSAFA delegation has arrived, which we believe the decision maybe was taken a bit too fast without taking into consideration the consequence, even financially, on the federation and on the members of FAZ,”he added.
Gelson Fernandes revealed that they came here knowing what was happening and that they will continue analysing what is happening on the ground.
Fernandes was saddened that instead of the U17 Boys who were in Morocco for the AFCON taking the limelight it was the AGM taking the spotlight.
“I think here, pretty much quickly, we followed everything that is happening here. There are status drafts agreed by all the members, which should be respected.
It’s very simple. It’s not like we arrived in Zambia and we know nothing about what’s going on. But we gave our position. We gave our recommendation and we will simply analyse further the situation and we will see what will happen in the near future, pretty much soon. What I can say is that it’s certainly not the way of doing things and that this meeting is not very pleasant,” he told the ZamFoot Crew.
“The boys are preparing for the AFCON in Morocco and we should talk about that, to be honest, and not about these things, meetings. Football is on the pitch and we are here for that. That’s our mission. That’s the mission of us, COSAFA. It’s not all these drama individuals. We don’t have to forget our mission. Our mission is football development and giving hope to the kids.
And that’s something which I’m not going into in detail, because there are some confidential things as well. I think we forget our priorities here. And that’s for me, as a deputy chief member of the association and director of Africa, it’s a problem. Because, you know, the kids suffer. Not the AGM, the kids, Your kids.”
“That’s your own interpretation, right? We’re not going into the electoral process, etc. Because you have an electoral committee. I’m not going into that. Fair play or not fair play. Of course we promote fair play. But we’re not the ones judging now if this was fair play. I’m certainly not saying it right now. We need to analyse, as Felix said, we need to analyse the situation, take everything into consideration. When I mean everything, it’s everything and we’ll certainly get back to FAZ regarding the future.”
“We will go to the venue, because we need to observe and attest, and then we will go. If you can have the AGM and the elective congress today, I will be very happy, but I’m not sure this will happen, to be honest.
We already communicated about that. We wrote letters, CAF and FIFA, to FAZ . Last year, it was the same. It’s not new. (11:56) Last year, I think June or May, it was the same. So, you can go back and check what are the potential consequences.
I think it’s very clear. I don’t even need to say it, because I’m not the one taking decisions. I’m only reporting and giving suggestions, but it’s quite clear. Look, I think the number of delegations show what respect we have for Zambia. That’s pretty much clear.I think the colleagues here can even speak for themselves. It’s highly important for us. That’s also clear.
The objective of FIFA and the Confederation is football.The countries that love football cannot be neglected. That’s our aim. That’s our promise as well. That’s our leadership that gives this line. FIFA President and General Secretary, they want football to happen, the ball to roll. So, we will certainly not leave Zambia down and we are taking care of what we can.”
The AGM was halted after a court order from Damion Academy General Secretary Humphrey Mwape Musonda citing Andrew Kamanga, Reuben Kamanga and the National Sports Council of Zambia.
