The government has dispelled reports circulating on social media that the government will not fund the 2020 budget for the national football team.
Minister of Youth Sport and Child Development Emmanuel Mulenga said that the government was mandated to ensure that all sports disciplines are well-financed.
Speaking in an interview with ZNBC in Lusaka last night, Mulenga said that the government will ensure that modalities are put in place for the national football team to participate in future football leagues to avoid what transpired to the women under 20 national team that did not participate to the All African games.
Of late there has been a rift between the FAZ and the new Government, with Government rejecting the choice of the National Coach alleging that interviews were never held and that the new coach was single-sourced, with the Minister telling FAZ to issue their own work permit to the new coach.
The minister was not allegedly happy with the procedure (headhunting) used to appoint the Serbian trainer as the new Chipolopolo coach. In a press session, Mulenga told FAZ to advertise the job, Follow the correct channel and only then will the ministry approve the appointment of a new coach.
“Coming to the coach, I didn’t want to talk about the coach because the Director who is the acting PS has issued a statement. Whatever money which the Government spends that taxpayers money and Taxpayers money should be used prudently according to the financial regulations and the financial regulations or employment act states that for any position to be given to an individual it has to be advertised those are Government rules but that position was not advertised. So if it was not advertised Government can not buy into it. In everything that FAZ or our ministry is doing should be transparent and accountable to the Zambian people,” he said.
“So as a ministry we are not going for that coach. One that’s single sourcing, We won’t go for a single source let them advertise we have advised them, It’s your responsibility and role to employ but follow the collect procedure, Advertise, Call for interviews, Let it be transparent then we shall consent to the coach which they will pick.”
Mulenga believes Jelušic does not have the necessary track record to be named as the head coach of the 2012 AFCON Champions. He went on to stress the importance of transparency and accountability as the money Government will be contributing is taxpayers money
” And coming to the experience of the same coach, We did a research. He was coaching Botswana and he never coached for so long and he was taken from coaching the national team to coaching academies is that what we need? That’s not our level how do we bring someone who was coaching youths and school-going boys to coach our national team? That’s not what we need,” Mulenga said.
It is very clear, Minister Mulenga don’t like Kamanga or the other way round.
I think if it not over the Under 20 girls fiasco, then should over a woman.
Mulenga is rejecting anything from Kamanga, and Kamanga is not sending any soccer team where Mulenga is, especially women teams.
FAZ has even stopped searching for a coach, better should have come in open to say that Mulenga should find a coach for them.
The Minister is wrong to say the coach who probably was hand picked is not qualified because he’s not an expert in that…Kalusha Bwalya hand picked Renard who at the time cannot be compared to the preferred coach for FAZ because him at least contributed to the Angolan team to qualify them to the World cup where Zambia has never done so… We know the current Minister is a friend to Great Kalu but please leave the administration to your Permanent Secretary to coordinate with FAZ and concentrate on policy issues and don’t be excited with the media…
You speak a lot of nonsense
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Hooray Hon Mulenga, you are a giant. Hey, in case I am.misunderstood by UPND and PF, I dont mean giant as in his physique, I mean he is a giant in morality and discipline and adherence to rules and procedure, the prerequisites to NOT corrupt.
Hon Mulenga us tough compared to Mawere and others that I will not mention who effectively were smaller than FAZ, hence the FAZ thinking it was business as usual. So now tell me where FAZ will get the other $10,000 to top up for the coach.
My giant, you have a point and my support, how can a youth coach in Botswana become our national soccer coach imwe a Kamanga?
On a related matter, is this the new kind of minister Lungu is bringing to cabinet? That would really be exciting for a change, a huge punch hole in HH’s arsenal.
We hand Nkandu Luo at ministry of education now we have a direct transformation of Nkandu Luo at Ministry of Sport and Youth Development, what Mulenga does not realize is that he is fighting the Zambians in his narrow mindedness of fighting Kamanga, Any failures by FAZ will now be directly blamed on government because every step being taken by FAZ is being blocked and Mulenga thinks he is very clever, He is directly interfering with the running of FAZ by trying to impose the disgraced Kalusha Bwalya on FAZ, who do you tell an association to consult Kalusha Bwalya in the appointment of a coach?????
Nesha bola bali ibila kumo .Zambia has gone to the Dogs .