Zambia risk Fifa ban over FAZ enquiry

IN a move likely to incur the wrath of Fifa, Zambia’s sports authorities have set up a commission to investigate the Football Association of Zambia (FAZ). FAZ is in turmoil after four officials resigned claiming they had issues with Kalusha Bwalya’s leadership style. This prompted the Sports Council of Zambia, a government body, to set up a committee to investigate FAZ.Under Fifa rules, national football associations must not be subject to government control. But Sports Council of Zambia chairman Chifumu Banda insists he is concerned with what has besieged the country’s top sport. “The sports council operates under an act of parliament. We are merely following the provisions of the law,” Banda said. This comes a few days after four members of FAZ’s executive committee quit their positions citing “lack of transparency and consultation” in the way FAZ is run. Committee members Emmanuel Munaile, Henshel Chitembeya, Pivoty Simwanza and Violet Bwalya announced their departures last week saying they had major issues with FAZ president Kalusha Bwalya’s management style.In response, Bwalya took umbrage at the trio’s departure, believing it to be symptomatic of attempts to undermine him. The 1988 African Footballer of the Year told journalists that his management style has always been underpinned by a spirit of dialogue, reconciliation and inclusiveness. “Unfortunately, this has been taken by some to mean weakness on my part,” the FAZ president commented.Zambia’s most decorated footballer has previously expressed deep frustration at his inability to form a consensus around key issues affecting the governance of the game. Agencies