…as FAZ prioritises grassroots football growth
OUR
dream of playing at two World Cups and five Africa Cups in 10 years will only materialise if we invest in the future, says Football Association of Zambia president Andrew Kamanga.
Kamanga said FAZ shall continue to provide a platform to nurture talent and ensure that it builds champions for the future.
He said his executive committee,has committed to tracking talent from a very tender age with its strategic plan incorporating eight-year- olds in the structure.
Kamanga said the FAZ executive has been keeping an eye on the establishment of an under-15 national team closely monitored by Chipolopolo coach Milutin ‘Micho’ Sredojevic.
He said the constitution of the under-15 national team
ZAMBIAN international Lazarous Kambole finally broke the jinx of failing to find the back of the net in Amakhosi colours as he got his first goal for Kaizer Chiefs after what has been a frustrating season and helped the side earn a vital 1-1 draw against Stellenbosch at Orlando Stadium in Soweto.
The PSL Fixture played on Sunday saw the former Zesco United hit man come in as a second half substitute to make an immediate impact with a 57th-minute effort which was superbly palmed by goalkeeper Lee Langeveldt.
Kambole finally found the equaliser in the 70th minute after he was picked out by team mate Reeve Frosler for the PSL League leaders to avoid defeat in a match which saw country-mate Nathan Sinkala being withdrawn in the 45th minute for Stellenbosch after picking an injury. fits into the 10-year FAZ strategic that focuses on talent identification, development and management as priority number one.
Kamanga said the selected under-15 boys will have their first test of international action at the Croatia Invitational Tournament that will draw participation from eight countries next month.
He said the youthful tournament will be helpful to the young players in grooming them for future high pressure engagements.
Kamanga said there is a network of coaches that are working with the technical directorate to help identify talent in the provinces.
“Talent identification is not a one-off event but a continuous process that espouses development and management.
“Our decentralisation programme has birthed provincial leagues that are expected to run age-group leagues. The lower division leagues in the
Meanwhile, Zambian striker Mwape Musonda scored a brace for the relegation battling Black Leopards side that battled to a hard-fought 2-1 win over Golden Arrows on Friday.
Former Zanaco midfielder Salulani Phiri played the last ten minutes as Polokwane City picked up a point after a tense 1-1 draw with Highlands Park while goalkeeper Cyril Mwenya Chibwe missed the match against Highlands Park owing to an injury.
Zambia’s most capped player Kennedy Mweene was an unused substitute for the Mamelodi Sundowns side that dropped two vital points following their 2-2 draw in their ABSA Premiership encounter against Maritzburg United.
At Orlando Pirates, the Zambian trio of Augustine Mulenga, Austin Muwowo and Justin Shonga were left out of the 18-man squad which was stunned 1-0 by Cape Town City. provinces will have an age cap to ensure that opportunities for promising young talents are created at the grassroots,” Kamanga said.
“The provincial leagues will be firmly tied to development through age-group competitions. We expect that the divisions will be categorised according to age-groups.”
Kamanga said the opportunities for ambitious young men and women are immense in the game as the association is implementing a number of programmes for the continued development of the Zambian game.
He said COSAFA has announced that it is lining up an under-15 regional tournament through its partnership with the UEFA Assist programme.
Kamanga said the proposal from COSAFA to introduce an under-15 championship will add an incentive to the associations’ efforts to have a long standing under-15 national team.