By MOSES CHIMFWEMBE –

AS a way of trying to prevent counterfeit tickets from flooding the black market, the Football Association of Zambia (FAZ) has announced that match tickets for the March 5 international friendly game against Uganda will only be offloaded on the same day.
FAZ treasurer, Kelvin Mutafu said in Ndola yesterday that the tickets would go on sale on Wednesday at the Levy Mwanawasa Stadium in Ndola prior to the match which will kick-off at 18:00 hours.
Mutafu said the move was aimed at curbing the rampant scourge of counterfeit tickets that flood the black market.
“We have decided to delay the sale of tickets deliberately; this is because we want to counter the fake tickets that land on the market each time there is game. So the tickets will be offloaded on Wednesday and we will ensure that we have enough sales points within Ndola so that people will be able to access the tickets the whole day.
“This is not a high profile game and we felt that it wouldn’t be good to offload the tickets early because of the black market and this decision is also aimed at beating the black market. The sale will start in the morning around 08:00 hours until about 16:00 hours and all tickets will be sold at Levy Mwanawasa Stadium,” he said.
Mutafu said also FAZ had slashed the gate charges for the match to allow as many fans as possible access to the stadium to cheer the Chipolopolo.
The tickets for the open wings will be fetching K20 with the East deck seats will be going at K30 while those of the West lower deck and the VIP stand are pegged at K100 and K250, respectively.
“If you look at the ticket prices, we have made this game to be affordable because we want people to come and fill the Stadium. You know we haven’t had friendly match at home in a long time and people should come in large numbers to watch,” he added.
And the Chipolopolo held yesterday’s morning training session at Levy Mwanawasa Stadium annex ground without left fullback Fackson Kapumbu and striker Larry Bwalya.
Team doctor Joseph Kabungo said Kapumbu had suffered from malaria while Bwalya sustained a minor calf muscle injury during a training match against Premiership side, Power Dynamos that saw the Chipolopolo win
2-1.
Kabungo, however, said Bwalya’s injury was not a serious concern and was optimistic that he would alongside Kapumbu be ready for Wednesday’s clash against the Cranes.
“All the players in camp are fine except Fackson who has malaria and Larry who sustained a calf muscle problem but it’s not serious, he will be fine for the game,” he said.