FAZ President Keith Mweemba has called for bold, honest and forward-looking reforms as the country’s football governing body begins work on its 10-year strategic plan.
He was speaking today at the Golden Peacock Hotel in Lusaka when he opened a 45-member Strategic Focus Group meeting tasked with drafting the new blueprint.
Mweemba described the meeting as a defining moment in FAZ’s efforts to craft a comprehensive plan to restore the country’s football fortunes.
“Today marks yet another significant milestone on our journey towards football excellence,” Mweemba said.
He urged members to take their responsibility seriously, and reminded them that their appointment was deliberate and based on their expertise.
“None of you is here by accident. Silence would be a disservice to the millions of Zambians who cannot be present in this room.” Said Mweemba.
He called for respectful and professional contributions during deliberations, adding that unity in diversity will be critical to producing a strong and credible document.
Mweemba acknowledged that Zambian football has declined in recent years but maintained that the country’s talent remains intact.
“Our talent has not declined. What we must interrogate is what went wrong, how deep the damage was, and how we navigate ourselves out of this football quagmire.” He said.
He noted that the global game has evolved rapidly; driven by technology, corporate governance and professionalism, which are now central to modern football administration.
“Talent and experience are no longer sufficient on their own,” Mweemba noted.
Mweemba stressed the need for structured development pathways and improved coaching standards.
The FAZ President urged the Focus Group to design a framework that treats football not just as recreation, but as a serious business with measurable outcomes and sustainable systems.
He called for a strategy that links talent identification and development with academic and professional growth from grassroots to elite level.
Mweemba challenged delegates to turn the document into a “bankable, visionary roadmap” that recognises past shortcomings and sets a clear direction for the future.
He also thanked FIFA for supporting the strategic planning process, saying the partnership will help ensure the roadmap reflects global best practice while responding to local realities.
The Focus Group is refining a draft document developed after weeks of research, consultations and benchmarking.
The final document will be submitted to the FAZ Executive Committee for review and formal endorsement.
By FAZ Media
