The Football Association of Zambia (FAZ) President Andrew Kamanga has confirmed that FAZ will receive the first installment of the $1.5 million FIFA COVID-19 relief fund by the end of August.
The second installment is expected to be paid out in January with $500 000 being exclusively for Women’s football as instructed by the world football governing body, FIFA.
Kamanga who was speaking at the opening of the FAZ Consultative Meeting with Super League and National Division One team ahead of the 2020/2021 season said the Super League teams would get 33% while National Division one would get 15% with the Provincial and developmental leagues getting 10%.
“With regard to financial support, I am glad to report that FIFA has given all the members a grant of USD1.5 million which will be paid towards the end of August (USD 500, 000) and another (USD 500, 000) will be paid in January. Then there is USD500, 000 which is exclusive to the women’s leagues. In total there is USD500,000 for women and one million for everybody else,” he said.
“I can assure you that the Super League is getting the lion’s share which is 33%, National Division One will take 15% and the rest of the leagues who are provincial and development leagues will take 10%,” he added.
Kamanga also revealed that the FAZ executive committee had approved the acquisition of authorized wearable GPS trackers designed to analyze and improve the quality of football for all Super League and National First Division teams Under the FIFA Forward support program.
Kamanga was also quick to challenge clubs to ensure that they did not disown decisions that they committed to during the consultative process.
“Those of us who were there would remember that there was a consultative process. We met the clubs here in Lusaka and another in Ndola. It was a bit unfortunate that we started hearing from you the members in the press and not through right channels that you were not consulted and that FAZ just imposed the re-start,” Kamanga said.
“Clearly these meetings are very important, I sat through both meetings, and those who had issues were given an opportunity.”
Kamanga said FAZ had engaged the Zambia Medical Association (ZMA) who would collaborate with the FAZ medical committee in ensuring that testing protocols are dealt with better. The Zambia National Public Health Institute (ZNPHI) also made a presentation on the expected health protocols.
FAZ was forced to end the 2019/2020 season prematurely after recommendations from ZNPHI regarding poor adherence to COVID-19 guidelines.
The 2020/2021 season is set to start on October 17.
