. Kalusha

By SHAMAOMA MUSONDA  –
THE Football Association of Zambia (FAZ) has deregistered 16 football clubs under its umbrella for failing to fulfil league fixtures.
And FAZ has warned that it will not tolerate any form of indiscipline from its members both from within the executive committee and ordinary affiliates.
FAZ president, Kalusha Bwalya said in his address during the FAZ annual general meeting (AGM) held at the Mulungushi University in Kabwe yesterday that the huge number of unplayed games recorded in 2013 was an embarrassment to the game.
Kalusha said it was disappointing that despite earlier warnings last year on the need to reduce the number of unplayed games the number instead increased in 2013 and that this was a unproductive act.
The delisted clubs are Airjets, Bangweulu, BHL Services, Chinsali United, Chinsali Young Stars, Junior Panza Chiefs, Mufumbwe Medics, Mupepetwe, New Rising Stars, Pamodzi, Power Girls, Shakumbila, Swallows, Young Ngoni Fighters, Young Swallows and ZNS Mumbezi Football Clubs.
“We return to this meeting with a huge challenge of unplayed games. I am saddened, that in 2012 we had a total of 427 unplayed games across the league. Despite our warning, last year the number rose to 594. This is a huge embarrassment and again, denying our players chance to play and instead risk the development of the game and the league.
“We are here to sustain development and not kill the sport. We have delisted some teams which completely failed to fulfil their fixtures and have ceased to be members of the Football Association of Zambia,” Kalusha said.
And Kalusha sent a strong warning to members, both in the executive and those in the FAZ structure, of stern punitive action for exhibiting indiscipline either collectively or individually saying tolerating such actions was self destruction and detrimental to football development.
“Indiscipline has no place in football. There will be sanctions for those that let us and our football down. I am speaking of the politics of hate, intolerance, uncivilised self-destruction that we all detest. Football brings people together as one. We need zero-tolerance to indiscipline and we should protect the game and the image of football.
“Whether in the general membership or executive committee, I shall not hesitate to crack the whip against any member trying to bring the name of our game into disrepute, we must carry on with those ideals of discipline and good governance that are for the good of the game,” he said.
Sports Deputy Minister Christopher Mulenga hailed FAZ for winning the bid to host the 2017 Africa Youth Championship saying such high level tournaments tend to leave a lasting legacy in the country especially towards infrastructure development.
“And as we look forward to hosting more tournaments, especially the under-20 Africa Youth Championships, I would like to urge FAZ to start preparations for the tournament now by identifying the players that will be playing at the under-17 tournament so that we don’t just host but actually win the tournament,” he said.
Meanwhile, Kalusha announced that the multiple clubs that have one sponsor are safe from been thrown outside the FAZ structure in line with the newly introduced Club Licensing.
One of the cornerstones of Club Licensing reads “One Sponsor, One Club” meaning one sponsor can only sponsor one football club in the country.
This part brought fears to the many bands of multiple teams across the country that have a single sponsor like Konkola Copper Mine (KCM), Mopani Copper Mines, Zambia Army, Zambia Police, Zanaco, Zesco Limited, Zambia Air Force (ZAF) and Zambia National Service (ZNS) among others.