MUTALE FUMES
WE will be compelled to go back to court if the Football Association of Zambia (FAZ) and FIFA remains mute on when the meeting meant to iron out wrangles will be held, Damiano Academy FC proprietor Damiano Mutale has warned.
On July 9, 2020, Mutale and Patson Lusaka withdrew their case against FAZ bringing to close a saga that had rocked Zambian football for months.
Damiano’s lawyers Lewis Nathan Advocates wrote to the defendant’s lawyers Messrs Mando and Pasi notifying them that a Notice of Discontinuance of proceedings and Appeal in Damiano Mutale and Patson Lusaka vs Adrian Kashala and FAZ had been filed before the courts.
And on July 10, FAZ and lawyers representing Mutale signed a consent judgement to withdraw all pending football cases in the courts of law.
The signing of the consent judgement was witnessed by Youth and Sports Minister Emmanuel Mulenga who said that the move was in line with the 10-day ultimatum given by FIFA for Zambia to resolve the wrangles or risk being banned.
The consent judgement also hindered FAZ from going ahead with the elections until after the meeting to be chaired by FIFA. The parties agreed that the outcome of the meeting to be chaired by officials from FIFA would be final and none of the parties will seek redress from a third party.
However with over a month after the consent judgement was signed, Mutale is concerned that FIFA has failed to confirm when it would send officials to Zambia to deal with the warring football administrators.
“If these guys continue to delay we will be forced to go back to court. According to the consent judgement we signed, it allows us to still go back to court.
However, FAZ vice president Rix Mweemba said in an interview that the association was also waiting for FIFA to provide guidance on when the meeting would be held after informing the global soccer governing body of the consent judgment signed.
Damiano FC manager Damiano Mutale and Patson Lusaka sued FAZ in an attempt to stop the FAZ elections. And expelled FAZ vice president Richard Kazala, sued Kamanga and his general secretary Adrian Kashala for contempt of court.