Cristoforetti to use futsal tourney to monitor players

NATIONAL Futsal team coach Andrea Cristoforetti says the Football Association of Zambia (FAZ) Premier Futsal League (PFL) off season tournament taking place at Automotive Indoor Futsal Arena will give him an opportunity to assess and monitor national team players taking part in the tournament.

Cristoforetti said the off season tournament is crucial as it will give non Super Division clubs a clue of what to expect when they join the FAZ Premier Futsal League.

Cristoforetti who also doubles as Automotive Futsal Academy coach said the off season tournament which has attracted 12 teams is the final event of the 2021/22 futsal season.

“It is an off season tournament but in reality we are closing up the season, we will break before returning for the new season.

“After the Easter Holiday tournament which was very successful despite not having teams from the Super Division, we thought it would be a great idea to host another tournament allowing teams from the Super Division to participate to give a feeling of a higher quality of futsal to the teams yet to join the league,” Cristoforetti said.

According to SAFA’s official website, CEO Advocate Tebogo Motlanthe says they are “happy” after the Western Cape High Court dismissed the Kannaland Local Football Association’s interdict to stop the Elective Congress with costs on Friday.

“SAFA is happy and this is further proof that the Association is doing things the correct way,” the SAFA CEO said.

Friday’s court decision comes just days after the Pretoria High Court dismissed SAFA vice president Ria Ledwaba’s attempt to also stop the Association’s Elective Congress.

Judge Brenda Neukircher struck Ledwaba’s interdict off the roll with punitive costs on Wednesday.

Ledwaba and SAFA’s embroiled feud dates back to when she filed a complaint to FIFA and the Confederation of African Football (CAF) during the March 26, Ordinary Congress.

Ledwaba alleged that the amendment of the constitution was in contravention of the rules and procedures laid down by the said constitution and was invalid.

“CAF reminded her that she was present in the SAFA Congress held in Johannesburg on March 26, 2022 where decisions were democratically taken in the presence of a FIFA representative who stayed for the duration of the proceedings,” CAF responded in a statement via SAFA.

SAFA has continued to reaffirm the position of the world governing body FIFA and the Confederation of African Football to protect the right of its members to freely exercise their right to elect leaders of their choice without any third-party interference.