FAZ HOPES FOR THE BEST
THE Football Association of Zambia (FAZ) is hopeful of navigating its way out of the current crisis after its Annual General Meeting was halted by a court order on Saturday.
FAZ president Andrew Kamanga said the association is working in the background to ensure that the Zambian game survives a possible ban from world soccer governing body FIFA.
Kamanga said FIFA has more than provided guidance on the way out of the current crisis and FAZ has taken it upon itself to be fully compliant of all the possibilities that may ensure that Zambia averts a possible ban from FIFA.
“We have made it a point to be compliant with the laws of the land and also football laws,” Kamanga said. “Our duty remains to do our best to preserve the integrity of our game.”
Kamanga stated that FIFA has routinely guided that football disputes can only be resolved through established channels within FAZ or FIFA statutes.
“It is a point we have belabored over the years to induct non-football persons with football interests to appreciate.
“However, we are mindful of the wishywashy situations that overwhelm third parties that desire to take over the management of the game through the back door,” Kamanga said.
“Our position remains that we will be respectful of both national and FIFA rules in negotiating our way out of this crisis,” he said.
Kamanga said FAZ will do everything possible to ensure that the Copper Queens do not miss out on their hard-earned Olympic Games participation and the Chipolopolo continue participation in the FIFA World Cup qualifiers and the under-17 girls remain in the thick of FIFA World Cup qualifiers.
“FIFA has more than made it clear that if Zambia remains adamant about this litigious path non-FAZ members have embraced, we will be sanctioned. Every well-meaning Zambian knows that it would be scandalous for our teams to be barred from participating in international events at the instigation on non-members,” the FAZ Chief said.
He said a FIFA ban would mean non-participation in the Olympics for the Copper Queens while the Chipolopolo and the Under-17 teams would not take part in the FIFA World Cup qualifiers.
“FIFA has given us up to April 30 to furnish them with all the information about the Zambian situation before they can make a decision. We are hopeful that we can find a solution long before FIFA has to intervene,” Kamanga said.
He said FAZ has been in touch with all critical stakeholders to ensure that the current crisis is resolved.
“FIFA provided a sense of what we have to do to avert possible sanctions and from the FAZ end, we have been impressing on stakeholders to take heed,” Kamanga said.