By Samuel Lukhanda –

SINCE the day they fielded an all foreign first eleven against DR Congo giants TP Mazembe in the pre-season friendly at Levy Mwanawasa, promoted Buildcon has received a lot of stick from soccer fans and football heads in the country which I feel is misplaced.
The doom sayers are calling for a quarter system to be introduced in FAZ Super League because they believe the influx of foreign players would keep young Zambian prospects out of the Super League as the teams will prefer polished and experienced foreign players to the young Zambians.
In their view, Buildcon is setting a bad precedent as other teams will follow suit and our league will be taken over by foreigners, our national team will in turn suffer.
This argument is laughable because firstly, it is xenophobic and we should not sink that low as Zambians to feel threatened by our brothers who cross these imaginary divides to come and earn a living here.
How different are we then to the racists?
Secondly, how many foreigners are there in our league compared to some of the countries that are doing well on the international circuit?
We pale in comparison to countries like Egypt, Algeria and South Africa where Zambian talent has continuously trekked to.
We have 20 teams in the FAZ Super League and if any Zambian player is good enough they can find a home at any of these teams. Let us not inculcate a culture of entitlement in our players just because of the colour of their passport.
Instead, we should throw them in the mill to compete with these foreign imports and if they are good enough they will come through the other end but if not they will be thrown out. This way, we shall have players good enough for the international stage which gravely crave for.
I listened with apprehension when national team coach Wedson Nyirenda made a case for the quarter system citing Buildcon because I think that was taking the easy way out in trying to arrest the dwindling nation team standards.
FAZ should not cut corners by harvesting at the high end but invest in the youth system so that these kids can push the foreigners for places.
That Zesco United team that had a romantic run to the semis of the CAF Champions League last year was anchored on a mixed blend of foreign grit and local flair as they dished some of exciting games of the competition home and away.
It is still fresh in my mind how the man who runs a model club in our league Zesco chief executive officer Justin Mumba broke it down for me in an interview.
He pointed to the fact that the foreign imports at his club brought in a different mentality into the squad that the locals have bought into. So it works for them.
Builcon is a new team and still trying to cut that first tooth in the big time. Allow them to find their way and tone down on the unnecessary criticism.
Some of it is coming from the place of envy and jealous, we understand that. A new kid with deep pockets on the block getting cosy with the girls that you only say hello to at church breeds resentment.
To add salt to injury Jonas Sakuwaha on his return to the national team fold committed some cardinal dressing room sin when trying to justify his call up went after his team mates saying he needs the Chipolopolo camping to improve his form as his team mates do not understand Zambian football.
That punch was below the belt and him being a senior local lad with vast international exposure should be a uniting figure in the dressing room rather than a polarizing one.
Change is here and let us all embrace it for the growth of the game and the Super League.
For feedback samuellukhanda@gmail.com