It’s A Malicious Social Media Campaign, Claims FAZ As Colossal Bonuses Raise Dust

FAZ has issued a statement claiming that the leaked financial documents showing irregular payments to executive committee committee members was a malicious social media campaign.

FAZ spokesperson Desmond Katongo has advised Zambians to ignore the financial documents circulating claiming they are aimed at damaging the image of the association.

Financial statements widely circulated online show FAZ officials benefiting in excess of K1.4 million in bonuses for work allegedly carried out to host the 2017 under-20 Africa Cup and the 2017 Cosafa under-17 tournaments.

FAZ announced it will hold a press briefing tomorrow.

BELOW IS THE FAZ STATEMENT FROM FAZ

Press Statement
(For Immediate Release)
Football Association of Zambia
Football House, Lusaka
01 April, 2018

FAZ REGRETS SOCIAL MEDIA ATTACKS, PROMOTES UNITY & FOCUS ON THE GAME, DEVELOPMENT

We have noted with regret the deliberately propagated and malicious social media campaign to smear FAZ aimed at derailing the operations of Football House.

We wish to advise the football fraternity and nation as a whole to ignore all manner of attacks aimed at the Football Association of Zambia with the contempt they deserve.

In the immediate aftermath of the 31st March 2018 AGM, some known individuals resorted to publishing documents which they hoped could damage FAZ and ultimately put the name of Association and its entire executive under ridicule.

The Association is aware of a sustained smear social media campaign by known individuals aimed at drawing Football House into endless mudslinging. We further wish to inform our members and the public that FAZ will not succumb to these malicious attacks.

FAZ will in the course of this week hold a press briefing to offer some clarity on several issues.
We wish to reiterate our commitment to the development of football and attaining the best and highest honours possible for Zambia. This we remain steadfast to do with the entire football family and people of Zambia in mind.

This we remain resolute to undertake anchored on the platform of constructive consultations, accountability and transparency. These principles were demonstrable in our AGM on Saturday and going forward they remain a part of our day to day operations.

In encouraging all members of the football family to embrace one another, love one another and work hard together as one large family, we invite all our members and every Zambian to focus their energies on supporting the enormous amount of work ahead of us in 2018/19 which include:
• Running successful AFCON 2019 Qualifiers and competing at the finals tournament in Cameroon
• Operationalizing FAZ offices across all 10 provinces
• Rolling out a robust programme of technical development and capacity development programmes for the training and retraining of our administrators across the provinces, coaches and other technical stakeholders
• Enhancing the competitiveness of our various football leagues and subsequently all national teams by entrenching club licensing in our football system which will secure the future of our game
• Continuing with our engagement of various partners and stakeholders to bring more sponsors into the game
• Rolling out provincial cup championships across the 10 provinces
• Running successful qualifiers for the youth, junior as well as women national teams
• Work to ensure provinces hold their assemblies at which they elect their representatives
• Continuously pursue and undertake programmes that would enhance the financial standing of our football
• Sustain the open door policy at Football House and continuously engage every member including those with any grievances so that whatever differences and opinions members and other stakeholders may have, these may be addressed and resolved amicably.

For and on behalf of:
FOOTBALL ASSOCIATION OF ZAMBIA
Desmond Katongo
COMMUNICATIONS MANAGER

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