By Shamaoma Musonda –
THE Zambia Police is investigating the Football Association of Zambia (FAZ) over a payment to City of Lusaka for the use of Woodlands Stadium in an international friendly match between Zambia and Ethiopia in April last year.
After Zambia played out a goal less draw with Ethiopia, FAZ needed to pay City of Lusaka for the use of the stadium and other agreed terms but the transaction stalled after questions over the account presented to the local football authority were raised.
Sources said FAZ was given an account for Forli Investment which the association was uncomfortable to transact in as it might have raised audit queries since City of Lusaka was the registered team with them.
Forli Investment is the sponsors of City of Lusaka football club.
But the money, believed to be in the range K63, 000, was eventually deposited into the City of Lusaka executive committee account.
This matter seems not to have sat well with the Forli Investment which now controls the stadium since it invested massively in refurbishing it and decided to report the issue to Lusaka Central Police.
“Police have been to FAZ to ask questions about the transaction. It seems there was a complaint by the Diego Casilli group,” the source said.
FAZ General Secretary Ponga Liwewe yesterday refused to have met any police officers yesterday over the matter.
When City Secretary Christopher Chilongo was contacted, he questioned the genesis of the issue and referred all queries to FAZ.
“I think you need to go and ask the FAZ to tell you who they paid and why they paid them. I will not say more,” he said.
Forli Investment Head of Roy Mvula confirmed yesterday that Forli had formerly complained to the Zambia Police over the transaction and that the police were currently investigating.
“I can only confirm that we complained to Central Police and they are investigating the matter. I can not start giving details as it is in police hands but just know that on January 26 this year, we complained to the police on 26 this year,” he said.
Zambia Head of Police Public Relations Esther Katongo said her office had not received a report yet but that she would make queries.
City of Lusaka has been hit by wrangles which have seen the emerging of two factions, one of which is the executive and the other being a management team following the FAZ Club Licensing criteria and is registered as a legal entity.
The Justin Zulu-executive has previously complained that club sponsor, Forli Investment, has overstepped their role and is now involved in team management affairs and gets the match gate takings.
But Forli boss Diego Casilli has defended his actions saying he did this because there was no accountability from the executive.
Matters have boiled over previously and last week saw Casilli state he was fade up with the endless fighting and would watch from a distance but that he would not let go of the stadium and whoever wanted to use it would have to do so at a fee.
But this latest move seems like another act in the continued twist of the tale at Woodlands Stadium.