‘Player quota not right call’

FORMER Zambia national team coach and Technical Director Honor Janza said limiting the number of foregin players in the Super Division is not the right call because foreign players contribute to the growth of the Zambian game.

Speaking during the MTN Bola show hosted by Ponga Liwewe on Thursday, Janza said foreign players bring the needed competition for local players to develop.

Janza, who is now NAPSA Stars Technical Director said limiting the number of foreign players in the league would have a negative impact because local players tend to relax when there are no foreign players to challenge them. He however noted that there is need to come up with a criteria that will guide on the quality of foreign players coming into the league.

“The coming in of foreign players has marketed the game and the local players have improved. We have a lot of players playing in foreign leagues now, the Patson Dakas, the Enock Mwepus, the Shongas so for me trying to cut it would not be the best solution,” Janza said.

And Zanaco FC General Manager Marlon Kananda said now may not be the right time to restrict the number of foreign players because the league is growing and restricting the numbers may disturb the development of the Zambian game.

Meanwhile, Zambia Premier

League Manager Brian Mulenga said the Zambian leagues consist of nine percent of foreign players from countries such as Mali, South Africa, Kenya Cameroon and Congo DR.