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SPORTS Minister, Vincent Mwale has advised the Football Association of Zambia (FAZ) to explain issues of allowances to junior players before they participate in international competitions.
Mwale said FAZ needed to explain clearly to the youngsters about their entitlements so that they do not cry foul in the end.
He said at a Press briefing in Lusaka yesterday that Government was not obliged to pay junior teams because it was FAZ’s sole responsibility.
“Government is only responsible to pay the senior national team and for junior team FAZ should sponsor them,” he said.
“FAZ should make it clear to the players what to expect after participating in a championship. What will be their winning bonuses and daily allowances,” he said.
Mwale was reacting to the national under-17 players, who are crying foul over allowances after participating in the 2015 Africa Junior Championship in Niger.
The minister said if need arose in future, the national sports policy should be revised to accommodate junior teams so that they too start receiving allowances from Government.
“There is need to revise the sports policy in future for the better but I am not saying we will do it now but at a later stage, he said.
Meanwhile, Mwale has pleaded with the Under-20 national team to redeem Zambia’s football fortunes at the 2015 Africa Youth Championship which kicks off on March 8 in Senegal.
He said the Under-20 should bring back smiles on Zambians after the poor performance of the senior national team and Under-17 at their respective African tournaments this year.
“We are now looking up to the Under-20 National team to redeem us from the losses and bring back smiles on Zambians after the losses of the Chipolopolo and Under-17,”he said.
Mwale also appealed to the corporate world to consider sponsoring junior football teams and minor sport for sports development in the country.
Times of Zambia
