FAZ President Keith Mweemba has revealed that the association is in the process of establishing a new national cup competition.
According to Mweemba, expanding the calendar with additional cup fixtures is aimed at providing lower league clubs with greater exposure and more opportunities for competitive development.
He made the remarks while addressing delegates at the FAZ Luapula Province Ordinary Annual General Meeting.
Mweemba was speaking during a FAZ Luapula Province Ordinary Annual General Meeting.
He said launching another cup competition will also help provinces like Luapula produce a Super League side for the first time in the history of football.
“Luapula, like the other nine provinces, remains very dear to us. This province has produced many outstanding footballers, too many to mention. We are determined to help the game grow here.” Mweemba said.
Mweemba cited clubs like Mansa Wanderers and Samfya Rockets, which have existed for many years, yet Luapula Province has not produced a Super League team.
The FAZ President said the absence of a club in the country’s top flight is a challenge FAZ must address.
“This is a challenge we must address together. One way to achieve this is by increasing competitions that give lower league clubs more opportunities to compete and develop. In this regard, we will in due course be announcing a new cup competition.” He said.
Meanwhile, Mweemba reiterated his executive’s commitment to promoting unity among members of the football family.
He said he is hopeful the FAZ Council will ratify the lifting of suspensions, bans and expulsions that were announced last year.
“When we assumed office, one of our first priorities was to unite the football family. Without unity, we cannot achieve meaningful progress. For this reason we resolved to lift the suspensions, bans and expulsions that had been imposed on some members of our football community so that we could begin on a clean slate.” Said Mweemba.
Meanwhile, Mweemba said the non-completion of works at Kaole Stadium in Mansa remains a concern and expressed hope that the recent visit by a FIFA delegation to Mansa will yield positive results.
“I am aware that the issue of Kaole Stadium continues to concern many of you. Following a visit by FIFA officials last year, we remain hopeful that the project will not be a white elephant and the stadium will soon be fit for use.”
Mweemba has since thanked FIFA for supporting FAZ in its infrastructure development projects.
And Luapula Province Permanent Secretary Prudence Chinama, who was represented at the AGM by Provincial Director of Sports Susan Kamanga, lamented the delay in completing the rehabilitation works of Kaole Stadium.
Chinama called on Mweemba to intervene and ensure that works at the stadium are expedited in the shortest possible time.
She said the delay in completing the rehabilitation of the facility has affected not only players but also fans.
”Kaole stadium is a multi purpose facility and it’s continued delay in completion has equally affected other sports disciplines such as track and field events as our athletes can’t access the track in it’s current state.” Chinama said.
And FAZ Luapula Province Chairperson Mujala Mweemba announced the establishment of executive committees in nine districts in the province namely Milenge, Samfya, Chipili, Mansa, Mwansabombwe, Mwense, Kawambwa, Nchelenge and Chienge, as part of efforts to implement the decentralization policy.
