Zambian FA to fund Chipolopolo’s foreign coach despite govt’s objections

The global economic downturn that has dogged the Nigeria Football Federation’s (NFF) operations seems to be also affecting its Zambian counterpart.The Chipolopolo are drawn in the same group with Nigeria in the Russia 2018 World Cup qualifying race and the 2012 African champions are doing everything within their power to make the Coupe du Mundo for the first time in their football history. But they lack the funds to pursue their dream.

Some Football Association of Zambia (FAZ) and sports ministry officials relocated to Europe two weeks ago to hunt for a new coach for the team led to a dizzying height by Frenchman, Herve Renard, in 2012.

FAZ General Secretary, Ponga Liwewe, yesterday said it is imperative the search party brings in the right coach, even if it proves to be very costly.
According to Zambian Post, FAZ are searching for a replacement for the last Chipolopolo head coach, George Lwandamina.

The likes of former Zambian national team coaches Patrice Beaumelle and Dario Bonnetti are being mentioned as possible replacements for Lwandamina, as is former Super Eagles and South Africa coach, Philippe Troussier.

According to the Post website, the Zambian government are not too happy about dishing out huge sums for the new man in charge. But Liwewe says that cost should not be an issue when it comes to ensuring that the national team have the best possible man at the helm.

“We have preliminary discussions. At this point, those discussions are still ongoing with government so I can’t state the figure but we have a range that we are discussing,” Liwewe told the Post.

“We can come up with a figure that meets the requirement of the level of coach that we are looking for.“High quality coaches are expensive. The country really makes a sacrifice, when there are so many other areas of critical importance for the government,” he concluded.FAZ president, Andrew Kamanga, and Zambia’s Minister of Sports, Vincent Mwale, are among the officials in Europe to search for the new coach.