By FELIX MALUNGA –
THE Ndola Football Coaches Association (NFCA) has appealed to all Zambian coaches not to criticise the appointment of Chintu Kampamba as national team assistant trainer but instead give him the necessary support for him to succeed.
NFCA publicity secretary, Emmanuel Mwelwa said the sustained attacks on Kampamba’s appointment were not warranted  because the youthful coach needed the support from the senior trainers for him to achieve the desired goals.
Mwelwa said in a statement yesterday that Football Association of Zambia (FAZ) did well to recognise Kampamba for his contributions to the local sport.
He said Kampamba had been a faithful and disciplined member of the Chipolopolo for over 10 years where in the process acquired the needed skills and experience to meet the dictates of the job.
“I am convinced that most people criticising Kampamba do not mean well because for example Roy Keane has been appointed assistant national team coach of Ireland despite him not having any prior experience in coaching at that level. Another example is that of Jurgen Klinsmann who led Germany to a semi-final berth at the World Cup without any prior experience,” he said.
Mwelwa said Kampamba’s skills and abilities were even noticed by one of Zambia’s most qualified administrators, Andrew Kamanga, who allowed the former Chipolopolo defender to take charge of Premiership, Kabwe Warriors after sidelining Happy Sichikolo.
He said it was strange that even some of the coaches who have not achieved anything in their careers were in the forefront discrediting FAZ over  the appointment.
“I find it strange that even some coaches who have not achieved anything in their coaching careers can start denouncing a promising young coach such as Kampamba instead of just picking up a phone to congratulate him. We just need to advise him on how best he can perform in his new role as assistant trainer to Patrice Beaumelle,” he said.
Mwelwa urged fellow coaches who could be bitter with the development to just take heart and swallow their pride and allow Kampamba to settle down in his new job.
He appealed to coaches and former footballers to always be supportive to each other when one was appointed to do a certain task by authorities.
Since the appointment late last year, some stakeholders questioned the criteria FAZ used to give Kampamba the Chipolopolo job.