Sports minister Elvis Nkandu has confirmed the FIFA directive as revealed here that the reconvened FAZ elective AGM should be held on or before May 8, 2025.
According to a post by journalist Michael Miyoba, Nkandu says the government has also been in touch with the world soccer governing body, FIFA.
BELOW IS THE STATEMENT
Sports Minister Elvis Nkandu said:
”It will be very interesting for people to know that FIFA has officially communicated that the FAZ elections will be held on May 8th. As government, we have been engaging with FIFA, we have not been idle. On the 29th of March, I was in Livingstone, fully prepared to officiate at the AGM. What happened there was very unfortunate. As government, we strongly condemn the actions of those who clearly do not love football. Anyone who disrupted that meeting is an enemy of football”.
“Imagine, people had traveled from all ten provinces of Zambia. If there were any issues, they should have been raised well in advance, not at the last minute after everyone had arrived. Those concerns could have been brought up four or five days earlier. Instead, FIFA, CAF, and COSAFA officials were allowed to come into the country only to be embarrassed and that is why I say it was a very sad day for our nation”.
“Shockingly, the National Sports Council, a government body, was cited in the injunction. If FAZ had disputes with some of its members, why were we included? As a father figure in football, when I learned that the injunction was linked to Damiano Academy, I reached out directly to the proprietor. I asked him, “What have you done? Do you want Zambia to be banned from football? What were you thinking?” His excuse was that he was driving and the call got cut. When I tried to call again, I couldn’t reach him”.
“I also contacted FAZ. I asked, “Now that this has happened, how can we proceed?” Personally, I believe in being open and inclusive , I don’t make decisions without consultation. I spoke to the FAZ General Secretary. He said, “FIFA has decided to return.” I told him, “Please, don’t rush to send the councillors back. Let’s wait. It’s Saturday, maybe after 10 Hours we can assess the situation and decide. But for now, let’s stay calm.”
“Because the government was cited in the injunction, we took steps to have it lifted. We used our own lawyer, and eventually the injunction was removed. Unfortunately, FAZ was not happy that the injunction was lifted. I am always open and transparent, maybe that’s where we differ. FAZ officials questioned and even abused our lawyer, asking her, “Why did you do that? Who were you representing?” And she responded that she was representing the government”.
“Unfortunately, the injunction was lifted just after the 10 AM mark we had agreed on with FAZ, by which time many people had already started leaving. I then asked, “Can you count how many delegates are still present? If we have 90 percent, we can proceed and help pay for those who left to return.” But it couldn’t work, by then FIFA Officials had already departed”.
“I personally had a discussion with FIFA delegates. They told me, “Honourable Minister, don’t worry. We are returning, and everything will be resolved”. However, we then started hearing allegations that the government was involved in obtaining the injunction. Honestly, how can anyone believe that the government would take part in such a thing?”
