By MICHAEL MIYOBA
ZAMBIA Sports Fans Association (ZASPOFA) patron Peter Makembo has called on the Ministry of Health to allow soccer fans at stadia to provide the support needed for Zambia to have a chance of beating Botswana in the crucial 2022 AFCON qualifiers.
Zambia will play host to Botswana on Thursday before traveling to Botwsana for the return leg fixture slated for Francis Town Sports Complex on Sunday. Makembo believes a home win against Botswana will motivate the Chipolopolo to believe they can qualify for the prestigious continental championship to be held in Cameroon.
However Makembo believes soccer fans will play a critical role to help the Chipolopolo deliver victory when they host Botswana at the National Heroes Stadium in Lusaka hence the need for the Ministry of Health to allow fans cheer the Chipolopolo who are yet to win a game in the qualifiers.
Makembo said apart from motivzating players, soccer fans help the national team and Super Division clubs raise resources for their operations.
Makembo has urged FAZ not to give up engaging the health authorities until they give a signal for fans to be able to give the Chipolopolo the needed support and help clubs raise resources.
“The association should make a follow up after the ten days given by the Ministry of Sports for fans to return elapsed.
“The National Heroes Stadium is very big and can allow fans while following the health guidelines that is why we are appealing to the Ministry of Health to give us a signal because we really want to be present to motivate the boys to deliver victory because the games against Botswana are crucial games which require nothing but a win,” Makembo said.
And soccer analyst Tandika Chirwa has called on the Ministry of Health to ensure that Covid-19 restrictions are applied equally.
Chirwa said it is unfair that politicians and musicians are allowed to hold mass gatherings while soccer fans are hindered from watching and helping their teams raise funds for their operations.
Chirwa said like many Super Division clubs playing games behind closed doors and are missing out on revenue, the Chipolopolo will miss out on a lot of revenue which helps with operational costs.
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