November 6, 2009
Thumps up!!! Football Association of Zambia Chief and African soccer icon Kalusha Bwalya welcoming the Frenchman after the local guns' exploits at CHAN
It is now an open secret that French-born coach Herve Renard’s reign at the helm of the Zambia national team will come to an end if he fails to lead Zambia to next year’s Angola 2010 African Cup of Nations.
But a simple question going through the minds of many Chipolopolo faithful is; why is Football Association of Zambia, FAZ President Kalusha Bwalya waiting for the unthinkable in Kigali to happen next week to part company with former Black Stars’ assistant coach or is it physical trainer?
Well, it must be stated that Renard signed a three year deal back in May 2008 and has only clocked 17 months thus he is remaining with about 19 months. So if FAZ was to sack the 40 year old Frenchman after the Egypt defeat at Konkola Stadium, then it would have meant paying compensation or simply ‘buying out’ his remaining 19 months.
Does FAZ has the money to ‘buy out’ Renard’s contract or was the government ready to bankroll FAZ again in an expenditure that could have led the Frenchman walk away with about – Renard’s salary is believed to be between $16, 000 to $20, 000 per month- $304, 000 (approximately ZMK1.5 billion) ? The answer is definitely No and that’s the reason why the other stakeholders (Government & FAZ)-except the fans- are quite and come November 14 if the Rwanda beats Zambia by a 2-0 margin then action will be taken.
And that action will only be made possible if a clause is activated in the contract which states ‘if the coach fails to secure Zambia qualification to the Angola 2010 African Cup of Nations then both parties can/will part company by mutual consent.’ This means thatRenard will have to resign for FAZ and government to avoid paying compensation.
To go a step further into the future; who does ‘Great Kalu’ bestow the responsibility of the nation’s dream of a maiden appearance at the 2014 World Cup finals? Will the fans cry for the 1988 African Footballer of the Year to step down from the boardroom and inspire the players ‘who lack determination’ for the second time or will it be foreign name again with rich ‘African football knowledge’ CV like the much traveled Henri Michel, Dutcman Jo Bonfrere, Ted Dumitre or Renard’s Godfather Claude LeRoy. Or this time around Great Kalu won’t use his connections to bring another physical trainer but settle for local coach; Patrick Phiri, Fighton Simukonda and Wedson Nyirenda.
The Chipolopolo Boys have to rise to the occasion in Kigali to save Renard's job.
And finally what happens if the Frenchman gets a result in Kigali and avoids the repeat of 2004 when Zambia under Patrick Phiri were thumped by Benin via a 3-0 margin.
Will the fans take the Frenchman back to their hearts? Yes if he gets Zambia to atleast the quarter finals stage in Angola. But unfortunately that quarter or semi finals berth may lead to Renard to dump Zambia to fulfill his ambition of being at the helm of one of ‘Africa powerhouse’ like Nigeria, Cameroon, and Ivory Coast etc.
By the way it’s not just the Renard’s possible escape clause and the Chipolopolo’s passage to Angola 2010 on the ‘solution table’ for FAZ but also the increasing pressure to find money to motivate the players.
In contrast to news from Cairo that each Egyptian player has been promised $300 000 if the Pharaoh book a place to South Africa 2010 World Cup in the final match against Algeria, FAZ hasn’t done anything for the Rwanda game.
FAZ should be in shock with new media reports that the Chipolopolo players have complained that the US$250 (about K 1.1 million) allowance given to them at the just-ended COSAFA Senior Challenge in Zimbabwe was too little.
In Friday’s lead story in a source told The Post Newspapers that since the team played two games; one against Namibia and the other against Mozambique resulting in 1-0 and 2-0 victories respectively without being given an allowance.
“We were only paid US$250 in the evening after losing 3-1 to Zimbabwe in the finalby the team manager Solly Pandor,” another player said.
The players wondered how they were expected to do well without motivation.
“We were only paid after we lost. How do you expect a team to win when they are not paid?” said the player.Zambia beat Namibia 1-0 in the quarter-finals and also defeated Mozambique 2-0 in the semi-finals before losing 3-1 to hosts Zimbabwe in the final.
A Football House source said the local team is entitled to US$ 500 (about K2.3 million) as winning bonus and additional allowances for local and international camping.
“That has been the general standard unless someone at FAZ has decided to change without communicating the new rules.
“In the obtaining rules, the players are owed slightly over US$ 1,000 each. It must be paid to them because that is what the budget indicates,” the source added.
Communications Oficcer Erick Mwanza said FAZ did not want to engage in discussing player emoluments in public.
“We never disclose what we gave them. There are daily allowances and bonuses, we are not even looking at COSAFA now but Rwanda. Everything in the budget was catered for,” he further claimed.
This follows the Zamfoot Crew revelation last week that each player got K60, 000 only as training (daily) allowance for six days after the game against Egypt last month.
Please as we air our comments, lets also try to suggest ways in which FAZ can be self sustainability.
40 Comments on "FAZ’s ‘possible’ escape clause over Renard"
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Anonymous on Fri, 6th Nov 2009 12:34 PM
Interesting news indeed. $250…
Big Steve from SA on Fri, 6th Nov 2009 12:53 PM
Well well so there are people in higher offices looking at getting rid of the “fox”. We should have a performance clause in these contracts that is not limited to game results or tournament qualification. They should look at an overall performance with a very minimal buy out should FAZ decide to terminate, lets say maybe two months pay so the guy can at least eat whilst he is looking for work. It looks like we hav let ourselves be held down by a piece of paper.
Man Chilu on Fri, 6th Nov 2009 1:08 PM
No wonder we are underperforming.our players are NOT motivated.how do we expect our players to play to their best, when who eats their money is someone who has not even played football before? Erick Mwanza should just say the truth….issue of allowances has come up time & again,,this FAZ executive MUST just go..they have failed us..
Never on Fri, 6th Nov 2009 2:21 PM
Those who are calling for Patrick Phiri, forget I don,t think he will come here where he is not respected.In Tanzania he is well respected and he is doing very fine.For the guys in Tanzania will agree with me that his team just won the TZ famous derby of Yanga and simba were the stadium was filled to capacity with about 60,000 spectators.
Unless a proper contract is done and a handsome remuneration enshrined in it. Other that, if I were Phiri I wouldn’t come especially with this disorganised FAZ in place.The closest replacement for Renard are coaches like Lwandamina,Simukonda, Wadda etc
Zed#1 (Mwangana) on Fri, 6th Nov 2009 2:33 PM
I remain wondering just what is going on……….!
Seen from afar on Fri, 6th Nov 2009 2:45 PM
It’s no secret that HR’s contract says he must get to Afcon… It seems the honeymoon is well and truely over, the last three or posts on Zamfoot have been somewhat negative as fans are feeling far from patriotic. It’s going to take something special to redeem peoples spirit. It’s late now as it’s very much still HR’s baby, who would risk taking the reigns from HR at a late stage like this??? Maybe George could as that is also what he is there for, a number 2, but coaches deserve a fair chance and asking anyone now is not fair.
I think fans have been reasonable with HR, the criticism and concern he is receiving today is warranted, it’s best we treat those we employ well though. See out the qualifiers first and let us see what can be done in Angola if we make it. We are not mad, angry fans, we will be fair, and coaches in the future should know, coaching Zambia is a good job!
Seen from afar on Fri, 6th Nov 2009 2:55 PM
As for players pay, i’m pleased that our players only complain if they have no option left. So FAZ please sort it out otherwise cancel these games before hand if you can’t afford it. It does not bode well for us or reflect well… Sort it out with players in secret indeed.
Pst SBN on Fri, 6th Nov 2009 3:03 PM
FAZ should try to be self reliant and less dependant on Govt. I suggest they try the transport business. They can for example buy those big buses (MARCOPOLO BUSES) say two to start with and run a separate arm of “FAZ Transport” aimed at making cash. They will be able to make close to half a billion in a month and all these sqabbles of allowances not paid or are too little will not be the talk of the day.
AllaBee on Fri, 6th Nov 2009 3:31 PM
Please God, make us lose in Kigali so we can fire the not so super cunning littlle fox called Herve Renard and put Great Galuz head on the chop board as well.Please mwe Lesa.That is my prayer
Alexander Liwana,RSA on Fri, 6th Nov 2009 3:34 PM
I think it will be more of patriotism rather than anything for Patrick Phiri to come to Zambia.
We are at war and we need a commando to rescue Zambia.
TERRY KAYAWE on Fri, 6th Nov 2009 4:50 PM
kalusha is a let down.
Never on Fri, 6th Nov 2009 4:55 PM
He is just human.Remember the way he was treated when FAZ fired him.He even lost his house in Kitwe.That was humiliation at its best. Patriotism has limits too.
Justice Kafusha on Fri, 6th Nov 2009 5:59 PM
No comments tata
Whisper on Fri, 6th Nov 2009 6:01 PM
Guys, as mentioned a few days ago. We can’t let this issue of allowances and FAZ lies (Mr Mwamelo came on here and flatly denied the case, but didn’t offer an explanation) slip away into the night. These chaps are running our game into the ground.
Also, I personally know that a player who played in COSAFA was tired of playing for Zambia because it had become so much of a chore. The player has played a lot of games and feels jaded and undervalued. This might be an isolated case and not indicative of the general feeling, but it might be.
I emailed baDinamo about this earlier today, but I think that our eyes really need to focus on FAZ. Ask yourself this question if our PE teacher gets sacked, then what? We remain with an association that has no vision, no strategy, no sense! HR has to go, but we can’t let him be the scapegoat for a useless association of liars and cheats. Honestly, the guys have been in office for so long and have failed to even write a strategy, yet the strategising is supposed to be the easy part of development! I think we can forget about any actual initiatives ever seeing the light of day with the current executive.
The Doctor on Fri, 6th Nov 2009 6:24 PM
good comment my big man,have been communicating with clifford and the boy is eager to get back in the chipolopolo squard.we need him,its a pity HR is self centered
Uncle Bobs on Fri, 6th Nov 2009 6:30 PM
Ba Never, Patrick Phiri has cult hero status and yes i watched the Yanga-Simba spectacular. The standard of play was higher than the chipantepante i usually see in Zambia. The ball was kept panshi and PP’s Simba were very quick especially from the wings. After the game i had a chat with Simba SG Kaduguda and he was all praises for PP. Incidentally i sat among Yanga fans and i could here them saying “PP would do better than our Brazilian coach Maximo”. I then met PP at Movenpick Hotel where i and he was having lunch. We had a lengthy chat and the man has so much humility.
We were all praising RB’s efforts that i said were good (short term) and not gold (long-term). These corporates only responded because they wanted to be seen to be politically correct.
DaMwiinger on Fri, 6th Nov 2009 6:32 PM
“Please as we air our comments, lets also try to suggest ways in which FAZ can be self sustainability”
Good idea but this never works with FAZ. I have first hand experience of this. I have offered advise even offering assistance in my area of expertise to them but they have now taken the position of just ignoring me. This is just a bunch of cheats and liars who have no idea what they are doing.
Whisper puts it right when he says they do not have a strategy. Read their website-all you get are castles in the air. They say we want to do such and such without setting out how they will do them. Any idiot can do that.
Way forward is to push for these guys really hard. They need to feel our weight as fans. Whisper, maybe it’s time we started on that push for people to resign. let’s communicate and see how that can be implemented. My patience has also run out with them.
Dinamo on Fri, 6th Nov 2009 7:33 PM
ha ha ha.I can see ba Justice you are begining to get tired of talking
Ngulube on Fri, 6th Nov 2009 8:24 PM
Ya its high time Faz became realistic and creative.Some of us we just hear of kk11 bt we never watched them,until they crushed.
If only Faz wud sale video of kk11 ,wu wud refuz to buy i tell u bengi benga shita.Evn saling ma replica jersey.
19 months salary its not so much for govt to pay off this cruel coach HR.
Unless our vision is lose and never win.
The guy HR will finish us.
If i were Patrick Phiri i wud accept with kalu n his faz excutive in office,tht wud mean bn a representative or a scape goat for or faz.
Richie on Fri, 6th Nov 2009 11:01 PM
The issue of allowances really dents the image of how our beloved sport is managed in our humble nation especially many companies have come to the fore & given substancial sums of money to subsidise the cost of running this noble sport.Mr Mwamelo can u come out of your shell & give the nation a comprehensive & categorical statement on how you are using the money?Indeed the development & growth of soccer will remain slow as long as faz continues to be baby & it beats common logic that after many years faz is still a drain on our tight treasurely.Hence the significance of having a financially independent faz can not be overemphasised & i think the following initiatives can. 1. Faz should be run by people who are exelled in their private lives & have a passion for soccer,ths can help to reduce the huge salaries given to the executive. 2. They can explore the building industry & build an ultra modern something which they can rent or lease to some one. 3. They can build a school where they can train coaches and sports administratorz to target sadc and africa. 4. They can rehearse with govt to monopolise the manufacturing of various chipolopolo items to be sold globally.I submit
Seasoned Soccer Fan-USA on Sat, 7th Nov 2009 12:33 AM
Shame on FAZ? Where is the money that corporate Zambia has given for the national teams? Is that only the World cup participants will get a good reward from FAZ? Last time the players got K60,000 though they had all the money. Can we make sure that FAZ is audited here soon and save Zambia from the NCHEKELEKO syndrome that killing even football in Zambia.
Matafwali on Sat, 7th Nov 2009 4:21 AM
Good contribution ba Whisper as always. Ba FAZ really have been a colossal failure! Like ba Seasoned Soccer Fan, I think they really need to be audited. This issue with the allowances is a tired story. I agree that our players should be patriotic, but they should not be robbed blind. A payment scale has been set and obviously, the money is ending in someone’s pocket. Remember, after the last AFCON, we heard that the agreed upon scale was not followed. Why and who is pocketing the extra cash?
The article above says that if Zambia makes to Angola and into the Quarterfinals, Renard might dumb Zambia for one of ‘Africa’s powerhouses’. My fear is quite the opposite, and that is that he might have to stay to complete his term. Although I wish him well, I don’t think Renard is that good a coach yet to succeed even with the riches at his disposal. He might be a good organizer, but tactically, he’s not there yet. But, right now, he’s our problem and the problem has to be solved.
Mufana on Sat, 7th Nov 2009 12:40 PM
I think also Kalu should face the music because a lot of Fans and people well vested were against this PE teacher to be the coach of Chipolopolo. As they say “one harvest what he sow”,
Lovely Nalishiwa on Sat, 7th Nov 2009 10:51 PM
Unfortunate $250 is too small, i also wonder if our players have an insurance cover. Also, its up to players to be seen to want big allowances than talking to the press, let them show signs of determination to win.
Moe on Sun, 8th Nov 2009 7:20 AM
Zambia will go thru to CAN2010 but will do poorly
Moe on Sun, 8th Nov 2009 7:22 AM
I need 10 predictions for the score Egypt-Algeria on Nov.14th. Send please!
Fifa on Sun, 8th Nov 2009 2:29 PM
Its sad that we picked man in the name of Renard whose CV was not impressive.On what grounds was the man picked? Renard s CV was poor and he has failed to improve it here in Zambia.I wouldnt blame him at all but i would blame the appointing authorities who are FAZ.its clear that Renard had a poor managerial record,a wrong altitude(supporting Egypt ,ivory coast etc nigeria etc) and the man had little knowledge of our country.).Mr Renard we Zambia are not a small footballing African country,we are just lacking something and we shall be back.
Fifa on Sun, 8th Nov 2009 2:40 PM
THIS IS PART OF RENARD S HISTORY!!!!Cambridge United have terminated the contract of manager Herve Renard following the club’s disappointing defeat at Oxford United on Saturday. Chairman Gary Harwood told the club’s website: “It was very amicable and it is something we didn’t want to do. “But we have not got time for Renard’s philosophy to flow through to our team, given where we are in the league.” Renard took over from fellow Frenchman Claude Le Roy in the summer but the loss to Oxford was Cambridge’s eighth in nine games.
Fifa on Sun, 8th Nov 2009 2:43 PM
Renard s a nice guy but came to our country with a wrong altitude.I wont blame him but the appointing authority becoz its like they banking on miracles when he was bein appointed
James Boniface Mwamelo on Mon, 9th Nov 2009 12:47 PM
Dandy Crazy please stop dragging my wife in your personal hatred you have always haboured towards me. I work hard for my money and I am under no obliagtion to buy you beer and therefore you cannot use that justification to extend your attack towards my wife who has no role whatsoever in my decision to be FAZ treasurer. Zamfoot Management i am kindly requesting that my young family’s privacy is respected and not dragged into mudsliging and people should not be allowed to drag their petty differences they have with me into public domain.
Amuna Onzuna on Mon, 9th Nov 2009 3:58 PM
People of Zambia,you are One People,so STOP attacking each other.If you want to go into FAZ excutive,then contest the elections the next time they are held.Lets build one another other than attacking each other.