May 20, 2009
Last week, our Chipolopolo completed the local training camp. Of the 25 players called for training, nine were selected for the final camp which commenced Monday and will run to June 2 in Johannesburg South Africa. Our team is settled and enjoying facilities at their disposal at our Milpark training base; the same base we used prior to the clash against Egypt and the one we will use before the June 20 clash against Algeria.
The sessions have been going well. All the South African based players called for this camp have reported. Of the local players, Jonas Sakuwaha leaves as soon as finalizing his travel logistics and getting all his papers done. For the European legion of the Chipolopolo, we expect them to join the team from this weekend when their respective leagues across Europe close.
Yesterday, our team manager Solly Pandor was in contact with all the European based players on their itinerary and expected times of arrival in Johannesburg. After this weekend’s season closing games, the players will get to the team camp and we expect by the start of next week to have a full house.
Other players with games on 30 May include Emmanuel Mbola who will leave Pyunik on the night soon after the game and join the team the following day.
The same applies for Isaac Chansa who is expected May 31.
Other confirmed times include Rainford Kalaba on Sunday May 24, Misheck Lungu on 30 May and Emmanuel Mayuka also on 30 May.
Coach Herve Renard also continues to monitor progress of the players in their respective leagues and is fully informed of arrival times and other logistics.
Skipper Chris Katongo might delay depending on the result of his team’s weekend game. Should Arminia Bielefeld win, then they go into a play-off to decide their Bundesliga status. With that scenario, it means Chris will have one more game before he can come and this might see him join the team just five days before we play Rwanda. However, should they lose, they will not be in the play-offs and our skipper will come soon after the game.
TICKETING: 2010 FIFA WORLD CUP QUALIFIERS KONKOLA STADIUM JUNE 6 AND JUNE 20 2009
We wish to reiterate our call to the fans and general football community on the need for them to prepare in advance and adequately for the two June FIFA World Cup and Nations Cup qualifiers to be played at Konkola Stadium on 6 and June 20.
Over a fortnight ago, we announced the gate charges which are K50, 000 for Open Wing, K150, 000 for the Grand Stand and K200, 000 for the VIP.
Tickets will go on sale at least two days before the games and will be sold across designated selling points on the Copperbelt. VIP tickets and some Grand Stand tickets will be sold at Football House.
We also wish to reiterate our call for the fans to maintain the highest levels of discipline and ensure that they or their colleagues do not engage in behaviour which might result in the Football Association of Zambia being penalized by FIFA.
FIFA is watching with keen interest all activities at all stadiums especially in Africa where there were unfortunate reports of trouble and tragically death as was seen in Abidjan.
Fans should note that due to the anticipated high demand for tickets for two June games, tickets are expected to be selling fast as such it is important for people to buy their tickets as early as they possibly can. Without a ticket, no one will be allowed anywhere near the confines of Konkola Stadium.
Again, there will be no ticket sales at the stadium. People without tickets should not go to Konkola with the hope of buying a ticket because they will be turned away by security officers.
FIFA/FAZ ADMINISTRATORS SEMINAR CHISAMBA PROTEA HOTEL
Last Sunday, the first ever management training seminar for Super League club chairmen and secretaries got underway at the Protea Safari Lodge in Chisamba.
The Minister of Sports officially opened the programme which as it ends on Friday will come up with the Chisamba Declaration. This will be the blueprint for football league development over the coming three years; a situation which should culminate in the professionalization of the league and launch of a new structure to administer the league in the country.
The closing ceremony is scheduled for tomorrow afternoon and all members of the media wishing to attend are welcome.
The Football Association of Zambia will provide a bus to and from Chisamba for the closing ceremony. The bus is scheduled to leave the Football House at 09:00hours.
This weekend, lower divisions i.e. Division Two and Three will have no games as per calendar schedule; this is a period which will allow for unplayed games from these two respective divisions to take place. As such the following are the fixtures for Division Two and Three:
WARNING TO CLUBS AND MATCH OFFICIALS
Following disturbing reports of some teams and match officials reporting for games late, we would like to reiterate our warning to all teams in the league that reporting for games late is a punishable offence.
The Football Association of Zambia has prescribed times for all match kick offs and we expect these to be followed accordingly. No club has written to us to state any other preferred time and therefore all league games will kick off at 15:00 hours. Anytime after the prescribed grace period will be deemed as reporting and commencing the games late.
Clubs are further reminded to exercise patience and understanding in dealing with clubs reporting late as in some cases the reasons for reporting late can be genuine. It is therefore incumbent upon the two clubs and match officials to agree to play the game outside the prescribed time. As much as possible FAZ want to see games played on the pitch as opposed to the awards of points in the board room.
The Football Association of Zambia will not take kindly to any team reporting for match late, thereby delaying the game and playing outside the prescribed time.
We also wish to reiterate the warning to match officials reporting for games late. They too will equally face serious disciplinary action which could result in sanctions or suspensions from officiating matches. Clubs are being requested to report any match official reporting for games late.
The Association will also come down heavily on clubs who fail to pay match officials their officiating fees. This sad state of affairs has been reported by the Referee Association of Zambia and the erring clubs will next week appear before the FAZ Disciplinary Committee.
73 Comments on "FAZ confirms arrival dates for Euro based Pro’s"
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Anonymous on Wed, 20th May 2009 10:30 PM
Pandor is excellent with the players , I like the guys relationship management skills . This is good from every sector , keep it up . For once we are taking things really seriously .
Sibs on Wed, 20th May 2009 11:34 PM
Anonymous I agree with you Mr.Pandor has got good relationship skills .The man has been doing this “stuff” for the national team for years. He “knows his thing”. Faz did a good job to rope him back.
To Eric this is what we expect from you.
Lupo on Thu, 21st May 2009 7:13 AM
We commend FAZ for their efforts during this Joint World/African Qualifiers Games. This has been one of the most organized preparation.
But the gate fares seems to be unaffordable to some Die Hard Zambian Soccer fans who would really want to see their team in action.
I believe this is the one of th highest gate fares we’ve ever had in the Zambian Soccer history, perhaps the highest if am not mistaken (Opening Wing 50pin?).
But this rise in gate fares will have either positive or negative effects.
THE POSITIVE EFFECT
-FAZ will raise more money if the turnout is high.
-When the Gate fares are high like the way it, the number of peolpe who will watch the match will be limited, hence there’l be order and less accidents that will occur both inside and outside the stadium. There’l also be less confusion if the number of people in limited.
THE NEGATIVE EFFECTS
-Most people especially those who will not afford a ticket will resort to dubious means to get into the stadium, they’l either force themselves into the stadium free of charge or try to corrupt gate men and this money going to gate men and women will not be benefited by FAZ.
-This high gate fares may just prevent many people getting into the stadium and FAZ might not raise much as they want to.
But we only hope this will have no negative effect on the Zambian Soccer Fans who are ralling behing team.
Vincent Numbwa on Thu, 21st May 2009 7:41 AM
Good work indeed Eyes on the ball team. This is want we want discpline and reporting for national duty on time and no distractions when in camp.
On the tickets please reconsider the price for the open wing where the poorest soccer fan who shouts the most for our dear team normally seats. K50 000 is too much please FAZ reduce the open wing tickects for the sake of our game.
This brings me to the issue of the new stadia to be built we should consider building a standuim with a huge capacity so that as many people afford to watch the game and FAZ still makes reasonable income from gate takings at a lower price. F
spaks on Thu, 21st May 2009 7:46 AM
Now we are talking FAZ, more of such positive actions will always win accolades from us the FANS, ifwe ni Chipolopolo yeka yeka
spaks on Thu, 21st May 2009 7:57 AM
On another topic though football related, it is almost evident that we will not see any benefits in terms of football from the World cup next year, while our friends will host competing teams for the conf cup and even play friendlies with them ifwe nothing in site, FAZ since we are camped in RSA and the conf cup is in between our two games could you try and arrange a friendly with one of the big guns? and also what is the status of Independence will we see it ready before next year? i would love to face Egypt pa independo, what needs to be done surely so that we can suggest means and ways of getting it ready???
Justice Kafusha on Thu, 21st May 2009 9:16 AM
@Mabbwana
Jacob plays his last game on the 29th may, so he should start off the following day and possibly arrive the 31st June
Shi Chamar on Thu, 21st May 2009 10:20 AM
Very well done indeed. It seems the players now realise the importance of being in camp and being in one accord. This is our chance to go to the world cup!! Go Kalu administration!!
Sibs on Thu, 21st May 2009 3:15 PM
Justice i’m sure you meant 31st May not 31 st June.
cephas Mkandawire on Thu, 21st May 2009 3:27 PM
Well done for announcing Ticket Charges almost a month in advance.Any seroius soccer lover can save/afford these charges. We need money to run anything. Players and officials need to be paid. We have started seeing sanity in soccer adminitration in this country. Let’s support both the players and the administraters if we want positive results. Well done FAZ
Amuna Onzuna on Thu, 21st May 2009 4:16 PM
We need a stadium in Lusaka,please!.I cant even the traffic I’ll endure driving to Chililabombwe.Faz should use the gate takings very well,they will reap a fortune out of these games.
Dinamo on Thu, 21st May 2009 10:49 PM
Its good that we are are now able to have our players in camp within time.Pandor to me is a true example of the saying “experience is the best teacher”.FAZ thought well to retain him
jeff windhoek on Fri, 22nd May 2009 9:28 AM
well done faz,kalu,eric pandor including the players are starting to be impressive this is really positive action undertaken by everyone.Remeber team work and displine will carry zambia through.It should now be left to fans to also show displine and maturity during this game.Please fan no scandals we want to naya these rwandese team without messy or amalilisho
SONG on Fri, 22nd May 2009 10:05 AM
@cephas Mkandawire
Cephas you are right, any die hard soccer fan should be able to save for the matches. I have always believed that you don’t expect to watch the likes of aboutrika and company for the price of four castle.