• BEAUMELLE

By MOSES CHIMFWEMBE –

THE Zambia Football Coaches Association (ZAFCA) has rallied behind Chipolopolo coach Patrice Beaumelle on the need for Zambian clubs to take keen interest in engaging goalkeeping trainers.
On Wednesday, Beaumelle said the national team did not have high quality goalkeepers because most clubs in the country do not have goalkeeping trainers.
ZAFCA vice president Lewis Shambulo said in an interview yesterday that in as much as the coaches association had done its part in providing technical assistance to all coaches in the country, it was high time clubs engaged goalkeeper coaches.
Shambulo said Zambia had enough qualified goalkeeping trainers who were capable of producing positive results.
“We have so many goalkeeping coaches in the country because as ZAFCA, we have done well in that area and clubs must also do their part.
Some of the super division clubs have goalkeeping coaches and the fact that our local goalkeepers have been at the centre of blunders on the international stage is down to lack of exposure and I am sure given another opportunity, they will rise to the occasion. But definitely, our clubs need goalkeeping coaches,” he said.
Nkana chairman John Chiwele, whose club has no goalkeeper trainer at the moment, also nodded Beaumelle’s appeal saying it was one of building skills in the players between the sticks.
“I think the idea that clubs should engage qualified goalkeeping trainers is welcomed but I think the issue is whether a club can find a qualified and competent trainer and if it can manage the cost of adding another person to its current coaching staff,” he said.
Zesco United media and public relations officer Ketebe Chengo said it was prudent for the clubs in the country to be working towards meeting the FIFA rules of upholding professionalism.
Chengo said the Ndola outfit currently has four coaches on its technical bench catering the four departments in the team and further appealed to other clubs in the country to emulate Zesco.
“Currently we have Steve Mwansa, goalkeeper trainer, second assistant coach Alfred Lupiya was a striker, first assistant Tenant Chembo was a midfielder and our head coach George Lwandamina was a defender. So this shows how complete out bench is and I think other clubs can do the same,” she said.