Kalusha Bwalya has implored club officials to comply with licensing regulations

FOOTBALL Association of Zambia (FAZ) president Kalusha Bwalya has implored club officials to comply with licensing regulations.
Speaking when he officially opened the one-week FIFA/FAZ management and administration course at Golden Peacock Hotel in Lusaka yesterday, Kalusha said club licensing is not the preserve for Super Division teams.
“We took a giant step at the last FAZ council where we did not only make history but a landmark decision enacting club licensing into FAZ statutes. That is one of the major undertakings any FAZ council has undertaken in the history of Zambian football.
“With licensing part of our statutes, every official and club must work towards complying with those regulations. We all need to be part of it,” he said.
Kalusha said it is important that Zambia does not lag behind as the rest of the world moves ahead to implement programmes and projects that are aimed at improving the game.
The FAZ chief said Zambia’s game is on the rise and everyone across the continent is looking at what the country is doing to improve the game.
He commended FIFA for its continued support to Zambian football.
And FIFA instructor Henry Tandau commended FAZ for the strides the association has made in football administration.
Tandau said managing football in Africa is one of the biggest problems and that it is important that the continent changed the way the game is managed.
“It is my belief that we will go out of this course empowered,” he told participants who have been drawn from Division One clubs.
And Minister of Youth and Sport Chishimba Kambwili commended FAZ for its relentless efforts in capacity building.
In a speech read for him by deputy director of sport Raphael Mwale, Kambwili said it is not easy to professionalise the game and that FAZ has stated its consistence in its leadership based on the respect of the game.
“The route to professionalism and licensing requires taking certain steps. You don’t just wake up one morning and say that you are turning professional. It takes a process, a process governed by law and not anarchy. You must all be wary of that and ensure that you guard against vices and practices that may hinder your progression,” he said.
Kambwili said the country has a bigger challenge of hosting the 2017 African Youth Championship and the successful hosting of the tournament will depend on expertise of all stakeholders.
He urged participants to remain resilient and embrace the key elements of professionalism.
Former FAZ treasurer Rix Mweemba and former FAZ director of finance Fidelis Banda are local instructors.