Football Association of Zambia (FAZ) President Andrew Kamanga is hopeful rehabilitation of the proposed facilities will be done in good time to avoid playing games outside the country.
The Confederation of African football (CAF) has already condemned the National Heroes Stadium from hosting international matches while Levy Mwanawasa Stadium needs to be worked on.
Kamanga is hoping works on the facilities can start as soon as possible to avoid the embarrassment of Zambia’s CAF envoys playing outside the country.
Kamanga has also indicated that the Chipolopolo technical bench remains available to assist the CAF envoys should they require any help.
“We are anxious about the state of preparedness for our continental envoys this year. It is our hope that they remember that they are not carrying their club colours with them but the national flag. As we already indicated that should they require some support from our national team bench we will be more than happy to facilitate. This should however be at their instigation as they are at liberty to deploy any methods of preparedness as they deem fit,” Kamanga wrote in his weekly update, the President’s corner.
“We are hopeful that the proposed rehabilitation to infrastructure will be done quickly enough to eliminate the possibility of playing home matches in foreign countries. We have made it a matter of priority to engage the government on the two stadia they own to ensure that the proposed works commence speedily. We remain hopeful that the nation can still save itself the embarrassment of playing home matches on foreign soil.”
Power Dynamos will play in the CAF Champions League after winning the league while FC MUZA who finished second will play in the CAF Confederation Cup.
