Minister of Sports, Youth and Art, Elvis Nkandu reminded the Football Association of Zambia (FAZ) that there was no room for poor results especially with the support Government is rendering.
The Minister who was speaking during the launch of the 2023 ABSA Cup at ABSA Bank Zambia headquarters in Lusaka said the performance of the Zambia U-20 national team at the ongoing U-20 Africa Cup of Nations was very unZambian.
Nkandu said he was very embarrassed by the U-20 showing and urged FAZ supremo Andrew Ndanga Kamanga to go an extra mile as the country is not happy with the showing from Egypt.
“To the Football Association of Zambia, I wish to state that with such stakeholders supporting you coupled by unwavering Government support, there is no excuse for poor results. We all look forward to the senior men’s team reclaiming their rightful position as African champions and emulating the Women by qualifying to the greatest soccer showpiece, the World Cup,” he said.
“I want to take advantage of this opportunity since you mentioned it yourself Mr President, sometimes I was wondering if this team is Zambia or maybe it’s Lesotho. The first game I watched in Saudi Arabia and then I came back and went straight to Botswana where I watched the last game. I watched the last game with the Botswana Minister of Youth and Sports, I was overcome with shame as our players could not even trap the ball. I don’t think we could tolerate such a display. It’s unZambian especially with the Government Support and the corporate World.”
“Mr President you need to go an extra mile, Like you said it’s the game but I think we need to do more so that we maintain our name and motivate the cooperates that are supporting us. So I thought I should mention that we are not happy as a country obviously,” he added.
The Minister was also quick to encourage soccer fans to turn out in numbers and support the ABSA Cup which kicks offs on 11th March at Woodlands Stadium.
“I also wish to encourage soccer fans to turn out in large numbers for the Absa cup games and there is nothing like the thrill of a cup match where the winners must be decided on the day with the added excitement of the prospects for post-match penalties.”
Two time Champions, Power Dynamos will start their campaign against Mufulira Wanderers while 2022 runners up Red Arrows will face FC MUZA in the quarter finals.
Green Buffaloes and Green Eagles will face Forest Rangers and Trident respectively to complete the first round matchups.
The minister is right we are tired of unzambian performance from our male teams Faz do something if not even the senior national team may fail to qualify to the Africa cup
Bebe
Hon Minister please ask the U 20 ( men) coach to let us know what his IQ is?
Tell them bause
Corruption is killing our soccer. Consult owe kamanga from great kalu on talent identification program and choose nature talent then groom them that’s your job that we can again found talent like it used to be. Please Mark my words .