. Janza

By NAKUBIANA SHABONGO  and SANDRA MWILA –

MMD Chembe Member of Parliament (MP), Mwansa Mbulakulima has backed Honour Janza for the Chipolopolo job, saying he has the capacity and potential to win Zambia the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) if well supported.
Mbulakulima said Janza has the capacity and potential needed to deliver the desired results but only if he is well supported.
He said this in Parliament on Tuesday night when contributing to the debate on 2015 budget estimates for the Ministry of Youth and Sport that Janza was qualified but lacked experience hence the need to support him.
The former Football Association of Zambia (FAZ) executive member said Janza proved himself by qualifying the Chipolopolo to the Equatorial Guinea 2015 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) finals and was confident that the team can win the trophy.
Mbulakulima said there was need to beef up the Chipolopolo coaching bench by bringing in other qualified and experienced local coaches to help Janza especially with the AFCON finals approaching.
“The current coach is qualified but is not experienced. He really needs support from all areas if he were to succeed. I am very confident that Zambia will win the AFCON as we have new legs in the national team, I would like to assure you that we will win next year’s tournament,” he said.
United Party for National Development (UPND) Lukulu East MP, Misheck Mutelo commended Janza for the exceptional work as head coach from the time he took over from Frenchman Patrice Beaumelle.
Meanwhile, Sports Minister Chishimba Kambwili said Government will prioritise the construction of the Livingstone Stadium next year.
Kambwili said he was pleased that the 2015 budget has increased from K76,857,170 in 2014 to K86,332,950 in 2015 and that this will see the ministry continue with the robust programmes of talent identification and sports infrastructure development.
“In the area of sports infrastructure development, the Ministry has prioritised the construction of Livingstone Stadium, sports complexes in Mufumbwe and Chinsali. To increase and widen the base of highly talented athletes in the country, talent identification and development will be a core programme for the Ministry,” he said.
Kambwili said efforts will be directed at strengthening the centre of sports excellence at the Olympic Youth Development Centre (OYDC).
The Minister said there were a number of sporting tournaments the country took part in because of diversification such as swimming, boxing and golf among others.
He was responding to Alliance for Democracy and Development (ADD) Luena MP, Getrude Imenda, who wanted to know why Government had given importance to soccer compared with other sports disciplines.
Imenda expressed concern over the decline in sporting activities in schools adding that it would enable youths engage in bad vices.
Kambwili said his ministry will also take the development of sports and physical fitness to the grassroots through promotion of community sports.
He appealed to the honourable members of parliament to support his ministry budget as sports and youth issues are a great interest to every sector.