Football Association of Zambia (FAZ) president Keith Mweemba has expressed concern over the continued delay in completing rehabilitation works at Kaole Stadium, describing the situation as a major setback for sports development in Luapula Province.
Speaking during the FAZ Luapula Province Ordinary Annual General Meeting (AGM), Mweemba acknowledged that the unfinished state of the facility remains a pressing issue for local football stakeholders and the wider sporting community.
“I am aware that the issue of Kaole Stadium continues to concern many of you. Following a visit by FIFA officials last year, we remain hopeful that the project will not be a white elephant and the stadium will soon be fit for use,” Mweemba said.
The FAZ chief revealed that a delegation from FIFA recently visited Mansa to assess the project, raising hopes that the long-delayed works could finally be completed.
Mweemba also thanked FIFA for its continued support towards infrastructure development projects in Zambia, noting that improved facilities are key to growing the game at all levels.
Luapula Province Permanent Secretary Prudence Chinama— who was represented at the meeting by Provincial Director of Sports Susan Kamanga— also voiced frustration over the slow progress.
Chinama called on FAZ leadership to intervene and help expedite the works, warning that the delay is negatively affecting multiple sporting disciplines.
“Kaole Stadium is a multi-purpose facility and its continued delay in completion has equally affected other sports disciplines such as track and field events, as our athletes can’t access the track in its current state,” she said.
The stalled project has left football clubs without a suitable venue while also depriving fans of top-level matches in the province.
The concerns were raised against the backdrop of broader discussions on football development in Luapula. Mweemba announced plans to introduce a new national cup competition aimed at giving lower-division clubs more competitive opportunities — a move he believes could eventually help the province produce its first team in the MTN Super League.
He cited long-standing clubs such as Mansa Wanderers and Samfya Rockets as examples of teams with rich histories but limited pathways to the top flight.
Mweemba also reiterated his administration’s commitment to uniting the football family by lifting previous suspensions, bans and expulsions, while FAZ Luapula Province Chairperson Mujala Mweemba announced the establishment of executive committees in nine districts as part of the association’s decentralization policy.
However, the incomplete Kaole Stadium remains the most urgent infrastructure challenge facing sport in the province, with stakeholders hoping that renewed attention from FAZ and FIFA will finally bring the project to completion. 🏟️⚽
