.KALUSHA

By GRACE CHAILE –

FOOTBALL Association of Zambia (FAZ) president Kalusha Bwalya has said financial constraints will not hinder FAZ from developing football as talent and enthusiasm gives them hope to go forward.
Speaking in an interview during the opening of the FIFA Women’s Football Coaching Course which has attracted 25 coaches in Lusaka yesterday, Kalusha said FAZ was committed to ensuring that development of football in Zambia at all levels was achieved.
“We may face serious challenges of resources but that won’t stop us, we have the talent and enthusiasm to go forward.
It is costly to host friendly games and camp these teams, but we have seen the results that have come out.
The Under-20 boys qualified to the Senegal 2015 Africa Youth Championship, Under-17 girls went to the world cup while their seniors made it to the African Women championship (AWC) . We will continue to source for help from our partners so that these developments are sustained in the next 20 years,” he said.
He expressed happiness with the fast rate at which women’s football is growing and has full confidence in the abilities of female coaches.
He said FAZ realised the power of education hence the vital role the coaching courses will play in enhancing women’s football.
“We have consistently stated in the past that the association views capacity building undertakings such as this one as a vehicle to better manage players and teams alike.
As people who spend a lot of time with the players, let us remember to impart into these players knowledge that will be useful to them both on and off the pitch.
My association would, therefore, wish to task you with the mammoth task of nurturing the next Helen Mubanga, Kabange Mupopo and other great women footballers to wear the Zambian football colours,” he said.
He said focus was now to ensure that She-polopolo was adequately prepared for the AWC slated for Namibia in October.
And Kalusha said the association’s dream was to see every team qualify in every tournament it participated in though more ground work needed to be done.
He congratulated the Under-20 coach Hector Chilombo for the fantastic work he put up and that FAZ has drawn a programme to keep the boys awake till December.