The Football Association of Zambia (FAZ) has confirmed that Nora Häuptle will not lead the Zambia women’s national football team at the upcoming FIFA Series tournament in Brazil due to ongoing contractual negotiations.
In a statement released on Friday, FAZ Acting Deputy General Secretary Iva Lengwe disclosed that the Swiss tactician has proposed amendments to her current deal, resulting in protracted discussions that have ultimately ruled her out of the Brazil assignment.
“We regret to announce that Häuptle will not lead the Copper Queens in Brazil as a result of ongoing re-negotiation for amendments to her current contract,” said Lengwe.
FAZ says all travel arrangements had been put in place for Häuptle’s participation, but the coach opted to remain behind to resolve the contractual matters. She is, however, expected in Lusaka in the coming days to conclude talks with the association.
In her absence, assistant coach Charles Haalubono will take charge of the team for the international assignment, with FAZ pledging full backing for the interim technical bench.
The Copper Queens are scheduled to kick off their FIFA Series campaign against Canada women’s national soccer team on Saturday, before facing hosts Brazil on Tuesday. Their final fixture will be against South Korea women’s national football team on April 18.
Despite the setback, FAZ has rallied fans to support the team, emphasizing that the tournament forms part of preparations for the upcoming Women’s Africa Cup of Nations.
Lengwe also revealed that initial travel plans were disrupted by injuries and visa delays affecting some players, though all called-up squad members have since departed for Brazil.
Halubolo won’t take the team anywhere. Even ba Mwape was a better coach than this timid, tactless muntu. He has been at Green Buffaloes for decades—what glory has he brought to the club apart from occasionally winning the amateurish Zambian women’s league? Each time he goes, even for the COSAFA club tournament, which is a qualifying stage for the Africa CAF Women’s Club Championship, he always flops.
And that’s the coach you think will progress the team to greater heights? Please, stop dreaming. I would rather they give a chance to the U17 and U20 coaches (Kanyemba and Florence) to lead the team. Kanyemba is more analytical and passionate about women’s football than this Charles guy, and she has proven herself by qualifying the U17 team to the World Cup twice. But again, tribalism yapa Zed won’t permit her to be given a chance to take over.
The problem we have at FAZ is having dishonest, stingy people who do not believe in investing in women’s football, which is why the standards have started to decline. Coach Nora is the best person to take the team forward, but just because she earns a pay cheque in dollars, there is too much petty jealousy at FAZ and the Ministry of Sports—hence their aim to frustrate her out of her job. There is a lot of dishonesty in the statement FAZ has been forced to release under pressure after public outcry over how they are handling Copper Queens affairs. There is alot FAZ are hiding from the public in their fight against Nora.
Kamanga had a genuine passion for women’s football, which is why our team is currently fourth-ranked in Africa, and the very reason we managed to snatch Nora from the women’s football–passionate Ghanaians. Our current administrators at FAZ aren’t serious enough about women’s football, which is why they drag their feet in organising friendlies for the team. Even for friendlies presented to them on a silver platter, such as the FIFA friendlies in Mexico, they fail on basic issues like organising visas for players on time. Its a circus and shameful at the same time
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