GOVERNMENT says it has no money to pay an expatriate coach for the national team.
Minister of Youth and Sport Vincent Mwale said in Lusaka yesterday that the significant reduction in mineral royalty tax will make it difficult for the treasury to find money to pay an expatriate coach.
On Monday, Government announced the reduction in mineral royalty tax from 20 to nine percent.
“Because of the huge amount of money that we paid to former national team coach Dario Bonetti and the reduction in mineral royalty tax, the Government will not find the money to pay. I can’t go back to the treasury and ask for money to pay an expatriate coach,” Mwale said.
He said Government will instead approach the corporate world to come on board and help in paying salaries for the Chipolopolo coach.
“We are talking with the corporate world and we are receiving good response. We will get back to you as soon as we finalise the discussion,” Mwale said.
He is confident the discussions between Government and the corporate world will yield positive results.
Last month, Government paid Bonetti US$421,670 as compensation for wrongful dismissal in October 2011.
The national team is currently being handled by caretaker coach Honour Janza. Football Association of Zambia president Kalusha Bwalya announced last month that the association would engage a foreign coach who will fit the profile of the Chipolopolo.
ZambiaDailyMail