By SANDRA MWILA –
FOOTBALL Association of Zambia (FAZ) says it will continue with the search for an expatriate Chipolopolo trainer despite Government’s indication that it has no funds to finance the coach’s salary.
FAZ general secretary Ponga Liwewe said in an interview yesterday that the recruitment process of an expatriate coach was on going and the association will soon table a list of four shortlisted candidates to the executive committee.
He said FAZ had sent a documentation of its proposal to the Government and was still waiting for feedback.
“The recruitment process for an expatriate coach is still alive and ongoing, we received applications, we shall shortlist four candidates and table them to the executive before having the interviews,” Liwewe said.
Asked how FAZ will employ an expatriate when the chief financier of the salary, Government, indicating that it had no funds, Liwewe said FAZ had not been told about the new Government stance.
“I sent a proposal to the Government on the employment of an expatriate coach and we are still waiting for official communication.
On what we shall do if they tell us they have no money, my response is we shall cross the bridge when we get there,” Liwewe said.
But former FAZ executive committee member Keagan Chipango has a different  feeling about the recruitment of an expatriate coach ahead of the 2018 World Cup qualifier stating it should not be a priority because of the timeframe.
Chipango said in an interview yesterday that FAZ should consider beefing up the technical bench with experienced local coaches like Wedson Nyirenda, Patrick Phiri and Beston Chambeshi to help George Lwandamina.
He said these people should be able to drill the team for the World Cup qualifiers that kick-off in October.
Zambia has been placed in a tough Group B with Nigeria, Cameroun and
Algeria to earn their first World Cup place.
Chipango said it was wishful thinking to believe that an expatriate coach will qualify the team to the World Cup looking at the timeframe, adding that while an expatriate coach is needed, priority should be to rebuild a team.
“Let us not pretend that an expatriate coach can come and make a miracle and qualify to the World Cup with the little time at hand.
What FAZ should do is beef up the technical bench with locals.
“We can still qualify to the World Cup with a local coach, look at Nigeria they qualified with Stephen Keshi,” Chipango said.
Meanwhile Zambia Sports Fans Association (ZASPOFA) strongman Peter Makembo has thanked Government for coming out in the open that it has no funds to pay an expatriate coach.
Makembo said FAZ should round-up senior local coaches to drill the national team than depending on an expatriate coach that might not be employed.
“I want to thank Government for coming out in the open on the
financial limitations. It is good that Government has made its stance clear. Government is obviously avoiding the Dario Bonetti saga that can get Zambia dragged to court,” Makembo said.