By SHAMAOMA MUSONDA –
THE Zambia Football Coaches Association (ZAFCA) has described as fantastic news that Englishman Irfan Kawri will not be taking over George ‘Chicken’ Lwandamina’s position as Chipolopolo head coach.
ZAFCA vice-president Lewis Shambulo said in an interview in Lusaka yesterday that the statement by FAZ president Kalusha Bwalya that Kawri was appointed just to assist Lwandamina and not to take over his  job was comforting.
Shambulo said ZAFCA has always advocated that the Chipolopolo top coaching job be given to a Zambian especially when a capable coach like Lwandamina was available.
“We  have always wanted the position to be Zambianised especially when a capable person is available. When we don’t have a local coach who is able to handle the national team, then FAZ can bring in an expert but for now, we feel George is doing well.
“This news is fantastic because after 50 years of independence, we should be able to produce a local coach capable of managing the national team,” Shambulo said.
Kalusha said in a statement following Kawri’s appointment that FAZ was committed to appointing local coaches to take charge of all national teams.
“Irfan Kawri is not coming to take over George Lwandamina’s job. He is only coming to assist” Kalusha said in a statement released at the weekend.
ZAFCA had earlier said while it supported Kawri appointment as assistant coach, it asked for his roles to be clearly outlined to avoid possible clash on the bench.
Shambulo said with this clarification, ZAFCA was happy with the choice of Kawri as an assistant coach whom he said will bring a new dimension of coaching to the Chipolopolo bench.
He said with the exposure Kawri has attained working for various clubs in England, Zambia could only benefit from his skills.
He said new workable ideas are what every institution wanted to see and that the Lwandamina bench will also be happy to get new ideas on team management and game approach.