The National Sports Council of Zambia (NSCZ) has given Faz 14 days to publish a public apology in the national press following last year’s London fiasco.
NCSZ spokesperson Smart Mwitwa said at a press briefing in Lusaka Wednesday afternoon that should Faz fail to comply, the sports watchdog will swiftly act on Football House.
“We wrote to Faz on 13 November, 2009 advising them that the case bed published in the print media with a suitable apology, Mwita said.
“That is to hold a press conference to apologize to the Zambian people over the friendly football match played between the Zambia and Ghanaian national team.
“Also to draw a list of lessons learnt in the London trip so that we could share this with other sports associations to avoid recurrence of such unfortunate saga.
“We regret to inform the nation and other stakeholders that our directive has not been compiled with.
“As you may be aware we wrote this letter of instruction to Faz to apologize at the height of preparation and eventually the participation of the national team in the Africa Cup in Angola.”
Mwita said NSCZ thought it only fair to wait until the team and officials returned from Angola to follow-up on the directive handed to Faz.
He said an official letter was sent by the NSCZ to Faz on February 5 to find out how far Football House had gone with the directive from last November.
“Now that the team and officials have come back and settled, we expected them to respond to the directive,” Mwitwa said.
“However, on 5 February 2010 we did send a letter reminding them (Faz) on their responsibility to act on the NSCZ letter and we have given them an ultimatum of 14 days effective the date of the letter in which to act.
“If they choose not to cooperate, the NSCZ will not hesitate to exercise the powers vested in it by the provisions of the NSCZ Act.
“This is a timely warning to FA and we only hope the Sports Council will not be stretched to that end.”
On August 12 last year, Zambia played Ghana in a friendly at Brisbane Road but struggled to raise a team after Faz failed to secure visa’s for 10 players.
This forced Faz to scale England at the last minute and drafted three UK-based part-timers to play in the match.
Zambia lost that match 4-1.
Toothless NSCZ – what good is an apology. If NCSZ had the so-called power to discipline FAZ, they would. But they cannot, simply because FIFA will expell Zambia! With new FIFA regulations, there is nothing any government, body or agency can do to any of its affiliates without being expelled. FAZ is the most powerful association in Zambia! And so are all FAs around the world. Too bad NSCZ…
Toothless threats, even a child can see that. Kalu wont apologise, so tough
WOW,,,it seems like NCSZ has too much power..but nobody is scared…:o
come on pipo! the mess happened almost a year ago and you want FAZ to appologise now. keep on dreaming. if FAZ had any intentions of apologising they should have done it long time ago.
FAZ is filled with proud people, the apology wont come soon. they already played down all the threats 4rom different people.. FAZ get a life plizz!
Pompous Kalu and Munaile will not apologize, just wait. They think they are kings!