The love affair that has existed between FAZ president Andrew Kamanga and outgoing Chipolopolo coach Avram Grant has broken down irretrievably.
From the time Kamanga and Grant clashed in the lead up to the Africa Cup of Nations, the two parties have pretended to enjoy a healthy relationship but the cosmetic has fallen off.
The crescendo of their tiff hit fever pitch after Kamanga asked the FAZ Executive Committee to make changes to the technical bench by including Wedson Nyirenda, Beston Chambeshi and Kalililo Kakonje.
Grant has since rejected the inclusion of the trio and only recognizes Moses Sichone as his local assistant.
The Israeli was brought to Zambia largely by Kamanga who has not even shared the terms of his engagement with the Executive Committee and the Ministry of Sports.
After FAZ insisted that the decision of ExCo to include Wada, Chambeshi & Kalililo could not be changed, Grant snubbed the announcement of the Chipolopolo team that faces Ivory Coast and Sierra Leone next week.
Kamanga is now in limbo and doesn’t seem to know what to do but Grant has moved a step further and threatened to report FAZ to FIFA if his outstanding dues are not paid within 24 hours.
Grant’s initial contract is understood to have automatically renewed by another two years after he qualified Zambia to the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations.
Earlier this month, Grant through his lawyers issued FAZ the first Demand Letter following months of his delayed salary.
The Israelite had at that time also threatened to report FAZ to the World Soccer Governing body FIFA if he did not receive his salary within 14 days.
Government through Permanent Secretary from the Ministry of Youth, Sports and Arts Kangwa Chileshe then called for a meeting which was held at the Intercontinental Hotel and attended by the PS himself, FAZ General Secretary Reuben Kamanga and Coach Avram Grant.
It was at this meeting that Grant discovered that some pending payments were actually caused by FAZ.
The revelations angered Grant considering that FAZ always told him the delay was caused by the government when infact not.
To pacify the damage and possibility of facing the wrath of FIFA, Minister of Youth, Sports and Arts Elvis Nkandu swung into action to source an urgent payment to Grant.
The government released an initial K500,000 which was followed up with an additional K1,000,000 released last week Friday.
Fast forward, FAZ requested that Fashion Sakala be included into the squad but Grant demanded an apology from the Chipolopolo striker.
Sakala refused to apologize because he still insists he said the truth to a FAZ official and can not apologize because his private conversation became public.
Grant met Andrew Kamanga yesterday and submitted his final team list, which was to be unveiled by him at a press conference today, but journalists were greeted by an empty chair that was later occupied by the FAZ media team.
As things stand, Grant is most likely heading back to Israel or England, not Ivory Coast, where Chipolopolo is scheduled to fulfill a 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier.
| Augustine Mukoka |
Uyu Augustine wa bufi! Is a Zambian this chap? He’s always against Zambia’s development in soccer. When the women’s soccer team qualifies for world cup finals he teams up with white skinned people in England calling for dismissal of hard working coach Bruce Mwape. When Zambia is eliminated he keeps quite. Apa nomba he’s working against Zambia by perpetuating lies so that there’s disunity in camp and Zambia loses to Ivory Coast and Sierra Leone. FAZ should report him to relevant authorities!
Unbelievable!!!
Unbelievable!!!
This is going to FIFA … again.
Whats FAZ going to cry about this time???
Grant, Asanovic…???. where will it end…?
Government can’t be pleased… this is a circus …
Wedson, Beston both failed abysmally.
We are basically donating 6 points to an average Ivory Coast.