HOLD ON, FANS CONSOLED
Contact and full contact sport and, safeguards as outlined in the health guidelines for football at premier and national division one leagues.”
ZAMBIAChild Development and the Ministry of Local Government will inspect stadiums to ensure that they are safe for the re-
Edgar Lungu has
sumption of football.
approved the re-
Lungu had earlier imple-
sumption of the mented a ban on all sports ac-
MTN/FAZ Super Division tivities in the country to halt the
set to resume mid next spread of the Covid-19 pandem-
month as planned by the ic which has claimed the lives of
local soccer governing 18 people in Zambia.
body. Meanwhile, Sports Minister
Speaking during yesterday’s Emmanuel Mulenga has hailed Presidential address at State President Lungu for lifting the House, Lungu said football can ban on contact sports. resume next month with strict “Guidelines for various sports Mulenga urged adherence to health guidelines. disciplines which have been clubs to prepare
Lungu said Government has categorised as non-contact, their stadi- developed guidelines which semi-contact and full contact ums and will guide the return of contact sport On and, October safeguards 28 as Minister out- training of from match venues during sports such as football, boxing lined Sports, in the health Youth guidelines and Child for Devenues the official launch of the and netball football velopment, at premier and Emmanuel national before 2020/2021 MTN/FAZ Super Sports Fans AsMu“Guidelines for all sports division one leagues. Hence com- sociation Patron Peter these lenga leagues hinted will resume that in action ten days’ Division disciplines to follow as they menc- time, soccer fans would be He said there is hope for consider Makembo resuming sports has activ- counin July, 2020, with strict obser- i n g ities selled have soccer been developed. fans to patientThey vance allowed of health to guidelines,” watch their said teams group fans to be allowed at stadia include ly wait the for following, the ten days but not given Lungu. from the stadiums. trainings. because the transmission rate limited to: guiding principles He Mulenga said the said Ministry it will of be gratby Government for fans to be of Covid-19 has reduced. stipulated by the statutory in- Health in cooperation with the allowed back at Stadia to supMinistry ifying of to Sports, see soccer Youth fans and being With six days gone after the struments 21 and 22 of 2020, port their respective teams. allowed to watch their teams hint was given by Mulenga who directed his ministry to expedite talks with the Ministry of Health for fans to be allowed at Stadia, Makembo urged fans to be patient because the 10 days hinted by the government is almost elapsing.
“Football has returned and the desire of every soccer fan is to watch their teams from the stadia. Very soon Zambia will face Botswana in a crucial AFCON qualifier and many Chipolopolo fans will want to support the boys but we have to trust our government.
“The Minister of Sports has indicated that fans will be allowed back at stadia very soon. I’m sure they are still observing the situation. If they did allow a musical concert at Woodlands Stadium, I see no reason why soccer fans shouldn’t be allowed to watch the game they love,” Makembo said.
Meanwhile, Makembo said it is unfortunate that the long awaited FIFA meeting involving FAZ and the aggrieved parties has twice failed to take place.
FAZ and the Aggrieved were scheduled to meet on October 30 in a FIFA chaired virtual meeting which flopped before it was postponed to next week.
Makembo said there is need for the warrying football administrators to swallow their pride and focus on developing the Zambian game instead of engaging in unending wrangles.
Makembo said Zambia may continue to struggle to qualify for crucial tournaments such as the AFCON if administrators persist on fighting one another.