CHINOYI CHIPULU
Football Administrator Blackwell Siwale has urged world football governing body FIFA and Football Association of Zambia (FAZ) to be professional after the latter failed to release a letter from Zurich instructing them to go ahead with the electoral process.
Siwale said FIFA and FAZ are people who do not want to adhere to basic norms and justice.
FAZ’s stance not to release the letter from FIFA which has given them the green light to proceed with the electoral process following the November 5 meeting which was convened by FIFA has drawn mixed reactions from the football fraternity.
Minister of Youth Emmanuel Mulenga, National Sports Council of Zambia chairman Patrick Mutimushi and acting general secretary Raphael Mulenga, FAZ president Andrew Kamanga and general secretary Adrian Kashala attended the virtual meeting.
The aggrieved parties were represented in the meeting by Damiano Mutale and lawyer Gilbert Phiri and Ministry of Sport director John Zulu.
Siwale, who is a former FAZ committee member, said when he featured on Radio Phoenix’s Let the people Talk programme on Today that everyone that attended the meeting wants to see the communiqué from Zurich but FAZ have surprisingly hidden it.
“FAZ should avail the communiqué from FIFA then we can take positions.They never communicated to FIFA.Where is a communiqué from FIFA which says go ahead and conduct elections? We need to know so that we can have a reaction,” he said.
He said FAZ’ conduct is the breach of the consent order agreed and a total disrespect of President Edgar Lungu, who is the association’s patron.
He said stakeholders must be given the letter so that they know what FIFA has said so that they can take another step.
“There should be no difficulties in releasing the communiqué to stakeholders .A letter to FAZ telling them to go ahead with elections is not a document that is an Administrative communication between FIFA and FAZ, it is a letter that talks about other issues with other stakeholders who were part of that meeting. It should be availed so that we take our next step, for or against, that is our position,” said Siwale, who is also former Nchanga Rangers president.
Siwale said once the letter is released they will concentrate on issues that FIFA has not addressed.
“We want to read the letter ourselves, not them reading the letter to us. Where does that happen?
“FAZ claims they are transparent, let them show us the letter. FIFA does not communicate to individuals. We want to know the contents of the letter regarding the issues that were contended during the meeting on November 5, 2020, “he said.
Siwale said the president attached so much importance to this meeting hence Kashala can’t trivialize it with total disregard.
He said individuals can not write to FIFA to ask for the letter letter because FIFA does not communicate to individuals but associations.fifa does not operate like that.
Siwale also wondered why FAZ has remained mute on the allegations that those that took matters to the courts of law have forfeited their membership.
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