Zambia: Premier League Teams Stick to No-Confidence Motion

29 April 2011

MTN Premier League teams have vowed to stand by the vote-of-no-confidence motion against the Kalusha Bwalya-headed FAZ executive at tomorrow’s annual general meeting (AGM) in Kabwe as directed by FIFA.

While FAZ has been resisting the motion, the FIFA communications department said in a communiqué that the motion should be included on the agenda.

FIFA said the motion, raised by Pemba United and seconded by Mazabuka United, both MTN Division One (South) sides, would fall under items from member associations submitted in accordance with Article 26.2 (x) of the FAZ constitution.

“The motion on no-confidence vote will be on the agenda under the topic ‘Items from member associations submitted in accordance with art.26.2 (x) of the FAZ status,” said FIFA.

Green Buffaloes chairperson James Mazimba said in an interview yesterday that expectations had been the same and that nothing had changed from his team’s initial stance.

Colonel Mazimba urged councillors to utilise the AGM to ensure that soccer moved to another level and that all contentious issues that had been dragging from last year were resolved.

“Who is superior between FAZ and FIFA? Let’s not be wasting time on baseless issues. It is not an issue and it is not even a basis for arguing, it is a foregone conclusion. FIFA is coming because they said it (no-confidence motion) should be there,” Mazimba said.

Power Dynamos secretary Justin Kapoma said FAZ councillors must stand united to ensure that soccer progressed.

Kapoma said all wrangles must come to rest and there was need to win back the confidence of sponsors like MTN Zambia and SuperSport, who recently threatened to halt the broadcast of live MTN Premier League games because of abrupt change of fixtures by Football House.

“I don’t know if it (no-confidence motion) will be included on the agenda. I only hope that they will include it because it is going to help us at the end of the day,” Kapoma said.

Nchanga Rangers chairperson Richard Kazala said as a seasoned team, his  Chingola-based side was expecting professionalism and literacy to prevail in Kabwe and not hooliganism activities like chanting of slogans and bulling delegates.

Kazala also said Rangers expected to be fully briefed on the MTN sponsorship because his executive had no clue on what was contained in the sponsorship package from the mobile phone service provider.

“If it (no-confidence motion) is on the agenda we, as Nchanga Rangers, are going to participate, no problem. We don’t fear anybody,” Kazala said.

Roan United secretary Sydney Chileya said his team was indebted to the support from its sponsors, Luanshya Copper Mines, and because of that his executive would ensure that the interest of the game was protected.

“While we hope the AGM will go well considering that we are meeting as one finally, as Roan United, we maintain our earlier commitment to protect our players.

“We expect football to win at the end of the day,” Chileya said.

AllAfrica – All the Time