What match fixing?
…Kamanga rejects match fixing allegations
THE Football Association of Zambia (FAZ) has refuted Football Association of Malawi (FAM) allegations of match fixing by the Zambia national women’s team taking part in the COSAFA Womens championship in South Africa. FAZ president Andrew Kamanga expressed shock at the allegations of match fixing by FAM who were hopping for Zambia to beat Botswana for Malawi to reach the last four of the regional competition as best losers. Kamanga wondered how possible it is for a team to fix a game when it is capable of winning on the pitch. “What match fixing when you are able to win your games on the pitch?” Kamanga asked He however could not give a compressive statement noting that the FAZ general secretary Adrian Kashala would give a comprehensive statement concerning the allegations. Malawi were hoping to qualify for the Cosafa semi-finals for the first time since 2011, however after finishing its last Group A matches with a 13-0 victory over Comoros on Monday, Malawi would have made the last-four grade as the best runners-up on a superior goal difference had Zambia beaten Botswana in a game which ended scoreless. The draw meant that both She-polopolo made it as Group B winners and Botswana as best runners-up to the displeasure of the Malawians who feel that Zambia planned the stalemate to avoid meeting Malawi in the semifinals of the competition. Meanwhile, FAZ has congratulated the Zambia women’s national team and the under-20 for making history by reaching the finals of the regional completions. The She-polopolo beat Botswana 4-0 to make a maiden COSAFA Cup final appearance while the Under-20 beat Namibia 1-0 to storm the finals where they will face Tanzania. Kamanga said the association was impressed with the teams especially the Under-20 who were competing in the inaugural COSAFA Youth Championship. “This development underscores the importance we have attached to women football as an executive. We urge our ladies to remain focused and do the country proud in the finals,” Kamanga said.