Homeless Buffaloes migrate to Imboela
By Sports Reporter
HOMELESS Green Buffaloes have migrated to Lusaka’s Edwin Imboela stadium for their remaining home games this season, while Mufulira’s Shinde and Nkana stadiums which were closed for the rest of the 2005 season for crowd trouble will re-open in August.
Zambia Army director of sports, Dan Chambaila said in statement released in Lusaka yesterday that the move by Buffaloes to find an alternative venue for their home matches was to allow the Ministry of Sport, Youth and Child Development do necessary repairs to the rickety structure.
The Independence stadium which used to host Zambia’s international matches was shut down early this year following a directive by Sports Minister Gladys Nyirongo to facilitate repairs to the 40-year old structure.
“Arising from the directive by the honourable Minister of Sport, Youth and Child Development banning the use of Independence stadium for both international and local matches, Buffaloes Football club has with immediate effect relocated to Edwin Imboela stadium.
Chambaila, said Buffaloes who are currently second on the Premier Division table, would continue using Independence stadium for training and camping only.
He appealed to Buffaloes’ fans to go to Edwin Imboela stadium in numbers and cheer the team this weekend when they face Nchanga Rangers and Power Dynamos.
Chambaila also said Shinde and Nkana stadiums which were closed for the rest of the 2005 season because of crowd trouble, would re-open in August following FAZ’s decision to reduce the period of closure.
The decision means the Shinde outfit, FAZ Premier Division Mufulira Wanderers, have only three more home matches to play away from home as their ban ends on August 3, while Division One Nkana return to their Wusakili home two weeks later.
FAZ spokesman Mwansa Mbulakulima told a Press briefing in Lusaka yesterday that the FAZ Appeals Committee which sat on June 22 reviewed the two teams’ cases and decided to reduce the punishment of the financially beleaguered sides.
In the case of Wanderers, Mbulakulima said the club was reminded to improve security at the stadium by providing at least 30 police officers during all home matches.
For Nkana, he said, “The club was further directed to ensure that at least 30 police officers were on duty at all home matches and to provide police escort to visiting teams.”
FAZ also reduced the life ban on Lusaka Tigers players Paul Mutondo and Isaac Ngulube who attacked a referee in a week-One match against Lusaka Celtic to one season.
Meanwhile, Zambia goalkeeper Kennedy Mweene has been advised to wait for the transfer window to open before moving from Kitwe United back to his former team, Lusaka Celtic.
