COUNCILLORS will have a crucial role to play when the Football Association of Zambia (FAZ) holds its eagerly-awaited reconvened annual general meeting (AGM) next weekend.
There will be need for councillors to head into this meeting with cool heads especially that the agenda item for the meeting has already brought confusion ahead of what is supposed to be a continuation of the March 28 AGM.
It will be interesting to see how councillors will table the agenda item, the restructuring of the Premier League, which was rejected at the March AGM but had been floated to the floor.
Northern Province Amateur Football Association (NOPAFA) during the March AGM in Kabwe proposed this motion of restructuring of the Division One North and South Leagues to avoid playoffs.
NOPAFA wanted two more slots because under the current system, teams from Northern and Luapula Provinces battle for one slot into Division One North but councillors will need no reminder that this motion was handsomely defeated as only 85 members were in favour of the idea while 157 were against.
I feel there is no need to rush this matter as it was only advocated for by one member but it can be tabled after the 2016 elective AGM. This is to avoid the move to be seen or misinterpreted as a campaign gimmick by Football House.
Football House should allow for as many suggestions as possible, merits and de-merits, to be brought forward so that the process can involve all stakeholders for the betterment of the development of the game.
There are important matters that needed to be addressed like De-linking of the Premier League from FAZ before people can start rushing to restructuring the leagues because one wonders what change this will bring.
It is a pity that this change has come at a bad time when FAZ councillors are supposed to start campaigning. And by the way, when do the official campaigns start?
Why do I ask? I ask because some executive committee members seem to have taken advantage of the same league restructuring awareness programmes and Airtel Talent Search to advance their agendas.
Let every aspirant be accorded an equal and fair platform to carry out their campaigns unlike bringing in unfair advantage.
It’s my wish that the councillors will put their personal agendas aside and ensure that football emerges winner.
Wishing you a nice sporting weekend and remember to interact on eliaschipepo@gmail.com or elias.chipepo@times.co.zm