By SANDRA MWILA –
SPORTS Minister Vincent Mwale has directed the Football Association of Zambia (FAZ) to sort out the issue of the appointment of the Chipolopolo coach before the Gabon 2017 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifiers kick off in June.

. Mwale

Mwale said at a Press briefing in Lusaka yesterday that FAZ should settle the vacancy of the Chipolopolo head coach and technical bench issue before the Chipolopolo begin their campaign for a slot at the AFCON finals.
“We can’t get into a major tournament such as the AFCON qualifiers without sorting out the technical bench issue. FAZ should look into this matter before the qualifiers start,” he said.
Zambia is in Group E alongside Congo Brazzaville, Kenya and Guinea Bissau but the team has no coach with Honour Janza only in-charge for the COSAFA Senior Challenge Cup.
Mwale also said that FAZ has submitted a budget to the ministry requesting to be assisted to pay dues for the new coach, assistants and a developmental coach.
He, however, declined to state how much FAZ has proposed but that consultations on whether Government will be able to pay the national team coach and his assistants were still on-going.
Mwale said the ministry wants to follow the right procedure to avoid being banned by FIFA after what transpired with former coach Dario Bonetti.
Meanwhile, Mwale said he was disappointed that a footballing nation like Zambia can have all of its national teams booted out from the various African competitions.
Mwale said he could not understand how the Chipolopolo, Under-20 and 17 sides could be eliminated in the first rounds at the continental tournaments while the Under-23 and Shepolopolo failed to qualify for the All Africa Games.