By MOSES CHIMFWEMBE –

FOOTBALL administrator Alex Mambwe has cautioned the Football Association of Zambia (FAZ) against disrespecting qualified and experienced coaches in the country.

Mambwe, who is chairperson for Medical Stars, said in an interview yesterday that the statement by FAZ vice-president Boniface Mwamelo that Kampamba was picked by interim coach Patrice Beaumelle was not true.

He said as the nation’s football governing body, FAZ had the powers to intervene and guide Beaumelle’s choice of his assistant.

Mambwe said FAZ was aware that Kampamba had no experience in coaching but that they allowed Beaumelle to make a wrong choice at the expense of qualified coaches in Zambia.

He said regardless of who picked Kampamba to be part of the Chipolopolo technical bench, the decision was not made in the interest of the national team.

Mambwe advised FAZ to handle the controversy surrounding Kampamba’s elevation carefully, saying it could one day backfire.

He said undermining coaches that had toiled for the improvement of Zambian football would be a grave mistake on future prospects.

“We don’t hate FAZ, all we want is that things pertaining to football must be run properly. As stakeholders, we feel the decision on Chintu (Kampamba) was wrong and we need to do the correct thing.

“Let’s learn to protect professionals who have contributed immensely to our country’s football. Chintu needed to learn from experienced coaches before he could be appointed in that position. We will not buy into the reason given by FAZ that Beaumelle chose Chintu, it’s not true,” he said.

Mambwe charged that Kampamba was innocent in the matter and that he did not deserve to be victimised.

“I would like to advise those expressing their sentiments on the appointment of Chintu to refrain from victimising him, the man is innocent but it’s the appointing authority who are wrong,” he added.