THE recent remarks by Football Association of Zambia (FAZ) president Kalusha Bwalya on the needed qualification for one to be appointed Chipolopolo coaches made some interesting reading coupled with the current technical bench changes made to the various national teams.

Interesting reading in that we were told the country has no indigenous coach qualified to be appointed Chipolopolo coach while qualifications for one to be an assistant trainer at senior level were not given by the FAZ chief.

I got an interesting email from a colleague, who opted to be anonymous for fear of victimisation, who raised some important issues regarding the qualifications for the national team top job.

Firstly, he asked why is there no local coach capable of coaching national soccer team wondering if there was a plan to ‘Zambianise’ the position initially and If the answer is yes-then where did the plan fail or what has happened to it?

He further goes on to ask what the difference in qualification and experience is between Honour Janza, who is also the former Chipolopolo assistant coach but now serving as FAZ technical director, and interim coach Patrice Beaumelle.

This is especially that both were Hervé Renard’s assistants, almost for the same period up to the “Victory” days but how come one Janza is not qualified to take over the top job while Beaumelle is?

He wonders as to when did Beaumelle became a “good coach, well prepared and well educated” while Janza is not when both served as assistant coaches but is it that was Janza not ‘prepared and well educated” for the top job?

Further, why would it take three to four years to prepare a Zambian coach and less time for Beaumelle who came with ‘no prior experience’?

Though the last query came before Masautso Mwale was dropped as assistant coach replaced by Chintu Kampamba, but the question still remains as to what happens should Beaumelle decide to pack his bags. Does it mean there will be no Zambian to take charge of the team?

Those are the questions that this gentleman would have been happier if they would be addressed by FAZ unlike just saying our coaches are not qualified and shockingly some coaches have agreed when some Zambians have taken charge of the team before.

On the recent appointment, I feel some appointments were long overdue but again the FAZ executive committee would have done much better on giving Kampamba dual roles at senior and under-23 level. I feel we have other coaches who should have been seconded for that position.

And why can’t we have these coaches who are in charge of the Under-23 and 20 teams in this case, Fightion Simukonda and George Lwandamina been assistants at senior level because they can properly recommend players to be seconded to the Chipolopolo.

Also the likes of Bestone Chambeshi and Patrick Phiri would have been included unlike giving Mr Kampamba two roles. In as much as we appreciate FAZ intentions to help retiring players go into coaching but giving them such responsibility is way too much.

I vividly remember the FAZ president some time back urging players not to rush into coaching before undergoing coaching courses but isn’t the association doing the opposite by rushing Kampamba?

It is everyone’s wish that the changes made will see us start qualifying for the Africa Junior and Youth Championships as well as the Olympic Games. For comments: eliaschipepo@gmail.com