Football Association of Zambia (FAZ) vice President, Justin Mumba has responded to a letter by FAZ Life Member Mwansa Mbulakulima asking FAZ President Andrew Kamanga to step down.
The former Former FAZ Executive Committee member has asked Kamanga to resign following the Chipolopolo Boys’ poor showing in the Qatar 2022 FIFA World Cup qualifiers.
We have taken note of the letter written by Mr. Mwansa Mbulakulima a former two-party Member of Parliament for Milenge Constituency on the FAZ president Andrew Kamanga.
Mr. Mbulakulima, who was an executive committee member almost two decades ago and serving on the dissolved Zamsure Football Club executive then says Mr. Kamanga should resign based on the performance of the Zambia Men’s National Team in the Qatar 2022 FIFA World Cup qualifiers.
Mumba has found it strange that Mbulakulima has singled out Kamanga out of a 13 member Committee.
“The FAZ executive committee finds it strange that Mr. Mbulakulima singled out Mr. Kamanga in a 13-member executive committee on the performance of the Chipolopolo when the problems are multi-faceted. FAZ manages five men’s national teams (U15, U17, U20, U23, and Chipolopolo while they additionally manage three women’s national teams (U17, U20, and Copper Queens. The normal scorecard of judging the executive should be on the performance of all the national teams,” Mumba told FAZ Media.
“The FAZ executive committee that was elected in February 2021 comprises 13 elected officials that manage the game collectively. The executive is only in its eighth month of their four-year mandate and would be happy to be judged after that period.”
Mumba has also wondered why Mbulakulima has only found his voice now, alleging that he remained quiet when FAZ was harassed by Government.
“Mr. Mbulakulima should also be reminded that FAZ struggled to hold elections for a year owing to political interference to an extent that Zambia almost got suspended by FIFA from all football activities.
The claims that Mr. Kamanga has been fighting to block people to challenge him is fallacious as all the changes to the FAZ constitution were FIFA directed.”
“For the record, no one has ever been blocked from contesting elections as anyone who qualified under the revised constitution was allowed to stand in the polls presided over by FIFA.”
“We, therefore, advise Mr. Mbulakulima to openly express his interest to contest for the FAZ presidency as provided for in the constitution as opposed to issuing wild and misleading statements,” Mumba added.
Mumba believes it is unfair to judge FAZ based on the Copper Bullets’ performance alone.
“The FAZ Executive committee has scored many successes in other areas which need to be noted like the U20 AFCON victory in 2017 for the first time, qualifying the Women National team to the Olympics for the first time and FAZ has set a high benchmark in terms of managing the resources which speak to the transparency and accountability espoused by Mr. Kamanga,” he says.
“We continue operating on an open-door policy basis and invite all the those who have ideas to improve the performance of our national teams to come on board and contribute to the development of the game.”
“The Chipolopolo may have suffered several setbacks but the current outlook with a lot of progressive stakeholders points to a turnaround of fortunes,” he added.
Mbulakulima in his letter dated 12th October 2021 asked Kananga to resign following failure by the senior Men’s national team to qualify for 3 consecutive AFCON tournaments.
“Therefore, going by your record, I find it within me as a concerned Zambian to request that you
step down and allow other people who are equally competent, carry the mantle of leading the
team.”
Work on your technical committee. You have failed to employ a good coach that’s where your weak link is
Surprising that even a soccer-enlightened person like Mwansa Mbulakulima can sink so low as to think resignation of Kamanga is the answer to the dullness of the men national soccer team players. The only thing I can blame Kamanga and group on, was the haste sucking of Micho just over 3 months ago. Micho is a very good coach and had a lot of interest coaching Zambian national soccer team. He should have been given a bit more time. One would take the whole night to convince me that Chambeshi is a better coach than Micho. For example the last game against E. Guinea, Chambeshi and technical team knew very well that we not only needed to win, but come out with as many goals as possible! But when I looked at the line-up, there was no natural centre-forward in there! All the three centre-forwards were on the bench! So Chambeshi had already failed to plan appropriately! It is also evident that Chambeshi also fails to read games effectively! The sacked Micho is on the verge of taking Uganda to the next round of World cup-Africa zone qualification as they are busy bagging in points. They now just need to beat Kenya (the groups whipping boys) and leaders Mali and they set up a date against Cameroon or Ghana, and with hard work and lady luck on their side, they will go through with 1-0 score line after two games, and Micho and Uganda will be at the 2022 World Cup Finals in Qatar! Shame on Kamangas executive for lack of patience! Please can the next national Zambia men’s soccer team coach come from Brazil or Spain, a renowned coach! We however have hope in the determination of women’s national soccer team in the Africa cup qualifiers, they will certainly remove the shame that has engulfed us in international soccer-losing to eSwatini!
Then they can all resign. All 13 of them
But it is very damaging period for our football. Nothing nothing. No results sure…6 years no watching Zambia at the Africa Cup?????? They can resign
I support mr mbulakulima you dont tell you are counted on those rubish you tell us mr mumbi all what we need is to see our might senior national team competing on continental and globaly like the way it was in kalus regm, look at your point what achvement did you have after 2017 you even fail ku cosafa resign all of you we dont need you.
Ba yende chabe we are not used to this. We have tried different coaches it’s time to try a new executive.
https://chng.it/5qB69FdD
SIgN The petition Kamanaga must go
FAZ are not untouchable
What has happened on the pitch cannot go uncriticised. But that’s always going to be a yardstick that any FAZ committee will be judged by.
Footballing results are a big part of National identity- GRZ has a right to know what happens to Treasury funds. What must GRZ do -say we are not going to interfere because we will be banned? What happens when the money runs out… we will be banned anyway.
FAZ I am sure is always broke.
Why?
By now there should have been s marketing campaign that made them financially solvent or at least getting there after all isn’t there a CA in charge.
Joao Havelange turned FIFA from a perennially broke association into a global sporting powerhouse.
Ok FAZ can say they are not corrupt as a defence , but thats like saying that all those who observe the speed limits while driving should be rewarded.
Wake up FAZ enough is enough.
Go and apologize to bushili or else, you will be crying always, bushili cursed the national team that they won’t winy or go to any major tournament unless Zambia apologize to him
Kamanga and his entire team aee an embarrassment, Justin,just be wise enough, what is at stake here is national pride through the main team, not auxiliary teams,we want results,not your explanations
@Kapola I have signed the petition.
FAZ VP you think we satisfied with qualifying the Women’s team to the Olympics? Come on is that an achievement whiles the main Team that Markets your brand keeps failing. A team that was not supported well in terms of preparation for the Olympics.
I have stated so many times how your Association has failed. We are an embarrassment these days when our Men’s National team goes on the pitch.
These FAZ bandits have no shame. An honorable person would resign. They have failed. They are wasting away the talent: e.g Daka, Fashion and Mwepu. They need to be forced out.