. Kamanga

By SANDRA MWILA –
FOOTBALL Association of Zambia (FAZ) president Andrew Kamanga has been elected into the COSAFA executive committee which also saw Zimbabwe’s Phillip Chiyangwa scooping the presidency unopposed.
Kamanga was among the five elected committee members at the COSAFA congress which was held after the regional under-20 tournament in South Africa which Zambia won.
In an interview from South Africa yesterday, Kamanga said he was humbled to be on the COSAFA commitee.
“As you know I was only elected as FAZ president this year in March. So naturally I am humbled that leaders in the region have shown confidence in my leadership, “Kamanga said.
Nine candidates contested the committee member position which saw Kamanga, Pedro Neto (Angola), Sameer Sobha (Mauritius), Alberto Simanga (Mozambique)and Walter Nyamilandu (Malawi)being elected for a five year mandate.
Chiyangwa went through unopposed after incumbent president Suketu Patel of Seychelles and South Africa’s Danny Jordan withdrew from the race.
The vice presidency was won by Frans Mbidi of Namibia after his only competitor Advocate Salemane Phafabe of Lesotho withdrew.
Kamanga also weighed in on the under-20 victory, saying the FAZ team’s hard work has started bearing fruit.
Kamanga said he was excited that from the time he assumed office the team has yielded good results.
He said their transition period was tough and the executive was now getting on track and results on the pitch will start reflecting.
“Friday was an exciting day, the work we put in has started bearing fruit .It has been a tough year, transition was tough but now things are starting to fall in place,” Kamanga said.
Kamanga said the under-20 has shown commitment and he was positive that it was a team for the future of Zambian football.
He said he was confident that the under- 20 lads will soon break into the senior team.
“The boys have shown total commitment towards the tournament and the youngsters will make it in the senior team,” Kamanga said.
Kamanga said the tournament was used to gauge the team ahead of the 2017 AFCON and adequate preparations will be put in place.
“We were using this tournament to gauge the players ahead of AFCON. Two friendlies have been lined up and also a one month camp in Spain,” Kamanga said.
He thanked the Republican President Edgar Lungu for his continued support to football.
Kamanga further asked the Zambian fans to continue having faith in the team.
Sports Minister Moses Mawere said he was happy that Government’s investment was yielding fruit.
Mawere reaffirmed Government’s commitment  towards supporting the under-20 ahead of the AFCON.
“ I am happy that’s why I am here to carry the trophy. Parliament was watching the game and we are glad our investments are yielding fruit,” he said.