August 24, 2008
Football Association of Zambia (FAZ) general secretary George Kasengele yesterday disclosed that the association was in a difficult position to postpone Zambia’s game against Togo because FIFA has already put logistics into place.
In an interview, Kasengele said FIFA had already sent tickets for the match officials.
“We got a confirmation from FIFA on Wednesday with air tickets already sent for the match commissioner, the security officer, the three match officials from South Africa, doping officer and referee assessor from Rwanda,” he said. “That is where the hitch is and we are hoping to finish consultations with government by Monday.”
Kasengele said the fate of Chipolopolo boys’ game against Togo would be known tomorrow.
He said his association expected the government to state its position tomorrow over the staging of Chipolopolo’s 2010 World/Africa Cup Group 11 qualifier against Togo set for September 6 at Konkola Stadium in Chililabombwe.
FAZ engaged the government in consultations over the game in view of the national mourning period which has been extended from 7 to 21 days in honour of the late President Levy Mwanawasa who died at Percy Military Hospital in Paris, France on August 19.
“We should know government’s position by Monday and you should be informed officially then and we (FAZ) don’t want to leave it until it is too late. This is the official position of the association and that is why we are engaging government on the September 6 World Cup qualifying match,” he said.
Kasengele confirmed that the Algeria 2009 CAF Africa Junior Championship first-round qualifier between Zambia and Namibia Under-17 would be postponed.
Kasengele said the game was scheduled for August 30, just four days before the late president was to be put to rest at his farm in Palabana on September 3.
And the senior Zambia national team will return home tomorrow evening at 20:00 after the end of their 10-day training camp in Germany.
Kasengele said the team would regroup in Kitwe on either Wednesday or Thursday, by which time FAZ would know whether or not they would host Togo at Konkola in a fortnight’s time.
[The Post]
35 Comments on "Togo match to go ahead"
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Alex on Sun, 24th Aug 2008 1:46 PM
A moment of silence , black arm bands and maybe black dress code to those who can afford would be the most in honour of our late patron on the sixth. The game should also be dedicated to him. May his soul rest in eternal peace.
Mphatso on Sun, 24th Aug 2008 1:58 PM
Yes, hopefully the boys will give all in this game in honor of Levy. They should play like they did against Bafanabafana when they were mourning Nsofwa. Togo is beatable, Lets win it for your Patron boys!
Sibs on Sun, 24th Aug 2008 6:47 PM
Comments reserved.
Big Steve from SA on Mon, 25th Aug 2008 8:35 AM
I do not think it is right to waylay things like National mourning. If it has been set at 21 days then lets leave it at 21 days and respect that, period. If we compromise and let the game go ahead we will be setting presitent and were does the buck stop with regards to compromising on issues like this. We should be steadfast when we make important decisions and not keep changing issues because of FIFA. We have lost our president, we are the people that are feeling this loss and need to mourn. To a decision maker sitting in a FIFA office abroad, they have no tear in their eye so its up to us to this right. The issue of air tickets being a reason is in my opinion pretty lame. If they had already left and were on flights then maybe. To talk of air tickets almost two weeks before the game, c’mon!!
chirwadickson on Wed, 27th Aug 2008 8:51 AM
wining for our late president is a must. coz if you katongo and the group loose then “muzibe koyenda” you should know where to go