“We wish to assure you that all Zambians will feel that they are part of the football being played and we can only have games when we do have facilities which are compliant with FIFA and CAF when it comes to hosting such games,”
GOVERNMENT through the Ministry of Sports Youth and Child Development and the Football Association of Zambia have signed a Memorandum of Understanding which gives the local soccer governing body the powers to rehabilitate stadia across the country.
FAZ has through the FIFA support programme identified stadia to be rehabilitated in four provinces in the first phase.
And speaking after signing the MoU, Sports Minister Emmanuel Mulenga said Government will continue providing an enabling environment to promote a Zambia where 80 percent of the population participate in a sport to enhance health, social interaction and political development. “To demonstrate this commitment to sports development we are today witnessing the signing of an MoU with FAZ to rehabilitate selected provincial stadia to international standards with funding from FIFA.
“The funds for this purpose amount to over two million as indicated by FAZ and I want to reiterate that Government with guidance from President Edgar Lungu who is the patron of FAZ, will continue to embrace public private partnerships with various stakeholders to ensure continuous sports development in our country,” Mulenga said.
And FAZ president Andrew Kamanga hailed Government for signing the MoU which will allow other provinces to host national team assignments.
Kamanga said the MoU will provide an opportunity for other regions beyond Lusaka and Copperbelt to watch and support the different national teams. “We will now be able to take some games to these provinces because we don’t want to restrict our activities to only Levy and Heroes Stadium in Lusaka.
“We wish to assure you that all Zambians will feel that they are part of the football being played and we can only have games when we do have facilities which are compliant with FIFA and CAF when it comes to hosting such games,” Kamanga said.
FAZ has identified four stadia across the country for upgrading by FIFA under the agreed strategic objectives and projects with the global mother body.
Stadia set to be upgraded include Kaole Stadium in Mansa, David Kaunda Stadium in Chipata, Independence in Solwezi and Kasama Sports Stadium.
The spread of infrastructural projects across the country is expected to ease the strain on the over-burdened stadia like National Heroes, Nkoloma, Sunset and Levy Mwanawasa.