By ALICE NACHILEMBE
The Zambian football fraternity is still debating the cold relationship seen between Saudi Arabia based Chipolopolo star striker Fashion Sakala and coach Avram Grant.
Grant left out a controversial Sakala from the Chipolopolo squad that successfully competed in the Morocco 2025 Africa Cup qualifying campaign.
Responding to questions from reporters on Sakala’s absence, Grant has been saying that each team has standards and values that should be followed by allplayers.
Earlier this year, Sakala made a negative comment against Grant in a leaked phone conversation with FAZ Communications Manager Sydney Mungala.
This is one of the several unresolved issues in local football that appears far from ending.
The long-standing Fashion Sakala saga has left Zambian football fans divided in opinion over who is on the right side of things between Grant and Sakala.
According to experienced football administrator Blackwell Siwale, FAZ is in a better position to resolve the misunderstanding between the coach and the player.
“The issues Fashion Sakala raised have validation, but it seems like the FAZ is favoring the coach,” Siwale said. “By doing so, they are not only depriving the football fraternity of the team, as Sakala is a leader and many look up to him.”
“The football scene is suffering from injuries that the FAZ can resolve,” he said. “Solving the Sakala issue will bring unity to the football fraternity in Zambia. We need unity as a football family, and the boys playing on the pitch need unity for the sport to thrive and move forward.”
Meanwhile, as the FAZ prepares for elections next year, Siwale is calling for a free and fair process. “We don’t want to see funny games about the elections; they should run freely, without people coming up with rules to restrict participation,” he said. “The current president has run his race, and we look forward to a good outcome.”
The FAZ has yet to comment on the matter, but with the football community watching, it remains to be seen how they will respond to Siwale’s calls for unity and transparency.
