Coaches protest ‘outrageous’ K5,000 fee by association

Local coaches are protesting the introduction of the K5, 000 membership fee allegedly imposed by the Zambia Football Coaches (ZaFCA) which they say is steep and ill-timed.

The coaches are wondering how ZaFCA arrived at an astronomical fee in the second round of the 2022-2023 season.

Kabwe Warriors coach Mumamba Numba said it was important to consult extensively on these fees so that everyone contributes and come up with a reasonable figure.

“Our concerns are with ZaFCA. FAZ has nothing to do with our concerns. All we need is for ZaFCA and coaches to come to an agreement about licence fees. Thereafter, we can inform the mother body (FAZ),” Numba said in an interview in Lusaka on Sunday.

Godfrey Sipeka, the former Nkana and Red Arrows midfield gaffer also wondered why the ZaFCA executive was in a hurry to collect the fees in midstream of the season.

“Why can’t they wait for the football calendar for 2022/23 to elapse and also to take time to analyse how best they can try to come up with fees of which each and every coach can agree to pay unlike the K5, 000 which is just too much to stomach,” Sipeka said.

In response, ZaFCA president Daniel Kabwe said payment for the 2022 – 2023 season was not cast in stone.

“We are a listening group and the fact that all the coaches are already registered with the mother association (FAZ) for the current season, the catch shall be during the registration of 2023/2024 season.

“Those who will not be our members will not be allowed to be registered in the FAZ/CAF transfer management system (TMS). We shall continue to sensitise them,” Kabwe said in his response to the concerns raised by his members.