. Kamanga

BY GODFREY DUBE –
The Football Association of Zambia (FAZ) has appointed English Premier League giants Arsenal vice-chairperson David Dein as a consultant to spearhead the de-linking of the FAZ league.
Dein was behind the appointment of the then little-known Arsène Wenger as Arsenal Manager.
And FAZ has also appointed its vice-president Rix Mweembe to head the league restructuring committee that will work hand in hand with Dein.
FAZ General Secretary Ponga Liwewe confirmed in an interview that the committee will meet and discuss how best to go about the process in collaboration with Dein.
Liwewe said Dein was free to work from wherever he pleased even if it meant not coming to Zambia but as long as he helped the process to bear success.
“I can confirm the appointment of David Dein as a consultant to spearhead the de-linking of the league from the FAZ. It’s up to the committee to meet and discuss how best the process will be done. I can’t tell the time frame because it’s the committee’s job,” he said.
Dein has served in various roles in football which include president of the G-14 group of European football clubs, various committeeswithin FIFA and UEFA including UEFA’s Club Competition Committee andExecutive Committee.
FAZ president Andrew Kamanga recently announced that the association was looking at modalities to delink the league from the association in order to make it more professional and competitive as well as making it easier to attract sponsorship.
Meanwhile, Mweemba will chair the committee tasked to restructure the league and will be deputised by FAZ committee member Kephas Katongo.
According to a circular released by FAZ Football administrator Simataa Simataa who is former FAZ president returns as secretary of thecommittee.
Other members of the committee include John Chiwele, Brian Mulenga and Joseph Chipampwe.
Meanwhile, FAZ has also constituted  the  Ethics and Audit and Compliance Committees.
The Ethics Committee will be chaired by Ndola lawyer Kephas Katongo while other members include Freddie Chalenga and Kizzy  Moonga.
In the Audit and Compliance Committee Emmanuel Mbambiko will be chairperson while John Nkonjera and Rueben Kamanga are members.