THE observation and advice by football administrator Andrew Kamanga for Zambians to brace for more disappointing results due to lack of investment at the grassroots level should be taken seriously.
Kamanga’s comments were spot on because you cannot have a strong national team if the grassroots are weak.
Failure by Zambian teams to go far and possibly win the CAF interclub championships as well as difficulties by our players to break in European league speaks volumes of the problems that have engulfed our beautiful game.
Thus the reason advanced by the Football Association of Zambia (FAZ) that lack of proficient goal scorers has contributed to the continued poor performance of the various national soccer teams is just a tip on the iceberg.
I feel there are many reasons that have greatly contributed to the declining standards of the game and these are critical and should be dealt with immediately without fail.
There is need for heavy investment in the youth development programmes by ensuring that there is a sound administration both at clubs and national team levels.
We need a system where players are identified and nurtured well starting a young age and allow them to graduate gradually through the various age group teams before they can play for the Chipolopolo.
Like Kamanga said, there is need to allow junior players to flourish at various age group teams unlike the scenario where the youngsters are being rushed to play for senior teams even before they know some basics of football.
This has brought about confusion as some youngsters now feel they are big when they go back to their age group side or club just because they have played at the highest level.
There is need to build capacity among grassroots coaches because they deal with the foundation, which if it is weak, cannot make structure to be firm.
I remember the time Lucky Msiska was brought in as under-23 soccer team coach when he expressed shock that players were taught basics at national team level such as ball control, a situation which points to lack of investment at the lower level.
With due respect to the coaching fraternity, there is need for us to be realistic and count how many coaches at grassroots level are well exposed or trained to manage players?
Results speak volumes and not me. Lack of a solid foundation is resulting in what we are seeing now.
FAZ should put in place in a deliberate policy to ensure more coaches from the lower division and academies are adequately trained because these usually handle players at a young age.
Allowing former players to participate at different levels like is the case South Africa and developed England where ex-players have played a critical role in moulding players at academy level.
While the decision by FAZ to engage clubs is welcome, Football House should a step further by opening up the league to allow more sponsors at various levels to come on board unlike restricting it to one sponsor.
For example, many remember when Zamtel wanted to come on board by donating a luxury bus to the Chipolopolo in 2012 but could not do so because the sponsorship contract FAZ has with some other firm.
As a result, the squad is confined in a 36-seater bus while some clubs are enjoying luxury coaches.
Anyway this is not the story for today, but we need to open up and allow more sponsors to come on board and see how best these clubs could be assisted.
FAZ also needs to allow former players, some of whom are willing to contribute to the development of the sport without a salary, unlike accommodating only those that who can sing a particular song.
It is high time FAZ and soccer fans stopped basking in the 2012 Africa Cup triumph and face the current situation head on. Winning the title was an investment started way back in 2004.
It is not that we had better players at the tournament than the Yaya Toures and Gervinho’s but it was through hard work, commitment and dedication that in the end paid off.
I do not think we need to conduct a study as to why our national teams are performing badly because the pointers are visible enough for everyone to see.
Wishing you a wonderful sporting weekend and lets continue interacting on elias.chipepo@times.co.zm or eliaschipepo@gmail.com