Ministry of Sports, FAZ iron differences

SUN SPORTS writes THE Ministry of Sport, Youth and Child Development and the Football Association of Zambia (FAZ) have agreed to work closely together in ensuring the development of football in Zambia. In a statement issued by FAZ communications manager, Sydney Mungala and signed by FAZ general Secretary Adrian Kashala and Ministry of Sports permanent secretary Joe Kapembwa, after Tuesday’s closed door meeting the two parties agreed to forge a new chapter in their relationship. Kashala said the two parties identified miscommunication as the cause of their fall out which had resulted in the Sports Minister Emmanuel Mulenga refusing to deal with any football matters. Kashala noted that FAZ president Kamanga reiterated, during the meeting, his Executive Committees’ commitment to ensuring that it works with government for the development of football in Zambia. FAZ also appealed to government to expedite the conclusion of the Memorandum of Understanding with FAZ on the upgrading of selected provincial sports centres. Kashala indicated that time was running out and that if there was further delay Zambia risked not accessing Infrastructure Development Project funds from FIFA. He said the parties also agreed that administrative matters which the Ministry of Youth Sport and Child Development was handling would be expeditiously dealt with in the interest of the game of football.  Kashala said FAZ gave its account on the electoral process detailing some of the areas that had sparked a lot of controversy.  FAZ also outlined the Constitutional Amendments, Electoral Committee and Electoral College that were ratified by the FAZ Council. FAZ further pledged to fully update the Ministry of Sports through the National Sports Council of Zambia (NSCZ) about the electoral process. On Tuesday, Minister of Youth, Sport and Child Development called for a Meeting with the FAZ President Andrew Kamanga and his Executive to urgently iron out outstanding issues. The meeting chaired by the minister himself was attended by Ministry  of Sports Permanent Secretary Joe Kapembwa , Director of Sports John Zulu, Deputy Director of sports, Cade Chikobo and Acting National Sports Council General Secretary Raphael Mulenga while, Kamanga headed the FAZ delegates who included vice president Rix Mweemba and the two general secretaries. Meanwhile, Kapembwa reaffirmed governments’ commitment through the Ministry of Sports to continue providing policy and legal guidance in the administration of football in Zambia. Kapembwa also confirmed that NSCZ has been requested to lead the process of setting up a Sports Tribunal to avoid the financially stressful route of the International Court for Sports Arbitration (CAS). The Sun