Lusaka, Zambia, March 23: Zambian’s Nchanga Rangers chairman, Blackwell Siwale proposal to restrict the FA presidential candidature to former association committee members has sparked a heated row in the country’s soccer fraternity.
Two of the country’s soccer administrators, Andrew Kamanga and Simataa Simataa, were the first to pour cold water on the proposition calling it, a bad law.
The dual opposition stance on the matter has been added weight to by another administrator Rix Mweemba who has also questioned the motive behind the proposal.
He has argued the proposal has been put forward at a wrong time, that adopting it into a law will only restrict competition to a select few and has asked for the net to be casted wide.
Two of the country’s soccer administrators, Andrew Kamanga and Simataa Simataa, were the first to pour cold water on the proposition calling it, a bad law.
The dual opposition stance on the matter has been added weight to by another administrator Rix Mweemba who has also questioned the motive behind the proposal.
He has argued the proposal has been put forward at a wrong time, that adopting it into a law will only restrict competition to a select few and has asked for the net to be casted wide.
“In all fairness, I don’t know what disease is gripping Zambians. Competition should be allowed to all competitors, not just a select people. We need to give chance to emerging leaders,” Mweemba was quoted by the Post on line as saying.
He has therefore called for the proposal to be put on ice for now to allow for more consultation and to give FAZ Councillors time and space to thoroughly scrutinize it.
“My proposal is that this issue be tabled at next year’s AGM after the elections. The timing is not right,” says Mweemba.
Zambia FA holds its Annual General Meeting (AGM) next week where the controversial proposal will be on the agenda for debate.
However, Siwale has strongly defended his proposal labelling it progressive and calling his critics, “noise-makers of soccer” who have also no right to make a stance on the issue as they are not FAZ Councillors.
“We only have three critics in this country who never agree to any progressive ideas. They are the usual noise-makers of football. I’m sorry to call them that, but we expect the councillors to debate the matter. It’s not law yet,” Siwale explains.
He argues that the current provision was not consistent because clubs were unable to keep the same executive members for a long enough period to give them the experience to contest for the FA presidency.
“As far as Nchanga Rangers is concerned, this is a well thought idea. All we want is someone to start from committee member before thinking of contesting the presidency. So far no councillor has complained or called me about this proposal,” he says.
Siwale told the Post Online that he submitted his amendment proposal 21 days before the day of the AGM as required by the association Constitution this was after it was put to him if he had followed all procedures of the law.
He has therefore called for the proposal to be put on ice for now to allow for more consultation and to give FAZ Councillors time and space to thoroughly scrutinize it.
“My proposal is that this issue be tabled at next year’s AGM after the elections. The timing is not right,” says Mweemba.
Zambia FA holds its Annual General Meeting (AGM) next week where the controversial proposal will be on the agenda for debate.
However, Siwale has strongly defended his proposal labelling it progressive and calling his critics, “noise-makers of soccer” who have also no right to make a stance on the issue as they are not FAZ Councillors.
“We only have three critics in this country who never agree to any progressive ideas. They are the usual noise-makers of football. I’m sorry to call them that, but we expect the councillors to debate the matter. It’s not law yet,” Siwale explains.
He argues that the current provision was not consistent because clubs were unable to keep the same executive members for a long enough period to give them the experience to contest for the FA presidency.
“As far as Nchanga Rangers is concerned, this is a well thought idea. All we want is someone to start from committee member before thinking of contesting the presidency. So far no councillor has complained or called me about this proposal,” he says.
Siwale told the Post Online that he submitted his amendment proposal 21 days before the day of the AGM as required by the association Constitution this was after it was put to him if he had followed all procedures of the law.
By: Joel Chirwa
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