Daily Nation Sports Page

Fri, 03 Mar 2017 12:06:56 +0000

Tame Kalu, Kamanga tells CAF

By GRACE CHAILE-LESOETSA

FAZ chief Andrew Kamanga has asked CAF president Issa Hayatou to stop Kalusha Bwalya from interfering in the running of football in Zambia.

In a letter to Hayatou dated March 1 and obtained by the Daily Nation yesterday revealed that the former FAZ president had not accepted the March 19, 2016 defeat at Moba Hotel in Kitwe.

Kamanga claims that Kalusha is using his supporters among them the Northern Province Amateur Football Association (NOPAFA) to call for his impeachment.

On February 28 NOPAFA had submitted to FAZ to put the impeachment of Kamanga as an agenda item at the March 25 general meeting to be held in Lusaka.

“Following the notice for the said council meeting and in accordance with article 26.2 of the FAZ constitution, we hereby wish to submit for inclusion of the item on the agenda to be discussed at the coming AGM , we submit the removal of the FAZ president Mr. Andrew Ndanga Kamanga from office in accordance with the Article 28.2 (i) and (ii). Details will be made available on the floor of the house,” NOPAFA wrote in their submission

This development has prompted Kamanga to ask for Hayatou’s arbitration.

“You will recall president that I had raised objection to the presence of Mr Kalusha Bwalya in your delegation to Zambia for the on-going U-20 Africa Cup tournament,

“President despite your assurance that Bwalya had been guided not to interfere in the tournament. I regret to advice that his presence continues to destabilize the running of football in Zambia. His known supporters have now taken it upon themselves to embarrass my executive by calling for my impeachment with no grounds for the same. Attached hereto is correspondence relating to the same,” Kamanga wrote.

He further acknowledged that he had a frosty relationship with Kalusha.

“It is known fact that Bwalya and I have a frosty relationship which is detrimental to running of football in Zambia,

“At the very least Bwalya should encourage his supporters that I am in charge of football and have a four year mandate which will expire in 2020,” Kamanga said.

Kalusha is part of Hayatou’s delegation as a CAF member.

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Senegal edge Amajita

…as Cameroun thump Sudan 4-1 to prove they are still Indomitable Lions

By GRACE CHAILE-LESOETSA

SENEGAL yesterday spoiled South Africa’s chances of clinching the Under-20 World Cup slot in Seoul with one game to spare when the West Africans came from behind to beat the Amajita 4-3 in Group B second match of the on-going Youth Africa Cup of Nations tournament.

And young Cameroun proved that they were still the Indomitable Lions by thumping Sudan 4-1 in the early kick-off at Levy Mwanawasa Stadium in Ndola yesterday.

Now, Senegal leads Group B with four points followed by South Africa and Cameroun both with three points but the Amajita enjoy a better goal difference while Sudan has only one point.

A draw in the next march will be enough for Senegal to book themselves a place in the semi-final when they face their ambitious arch-rivals Cameroun on Sunday in what promises to be the ultimate battle of the tournament.

South Africa, who set the Mwanawasa Stadium ablaze on Monday when they beat Cameroun 3-1, yesterday promised to do the same when they took a second-minute lead when Liam Jordan scored from inside the box.

The Amajita looked on their way to another superb victory when they doubled the score in the 24th minute through captain Tercious  Malepe.

But Senegal was on fire in the second half and danced in South Africa’s half. Ibrahima Ndiaye scored the first goal for Senegal in the 48th minute from a free kick.

Ousseynou Cavin Diagne scored a brace in a space of six minutes in the 54th and 60th minute to make it 3-2 for Senegal before Krepin Diatta sealed off the victory in the 71st minute with a powerful header to make it 4-2.

South Africa woke up from their slumber as the clock ticked on and soon took command of the match. They reduced the margin when Luther Singh made it 4-3 in the 81st minute, making him the tournament top scorer with four goals.

Amajita’s efforts to level matters were fruitless as Senegal defence hung on till the final whistle.

Amajita coach Thabo Senong said South Africa was still in contention and will definitely secure a semi-final slot when they take on Sudan at Heroes Stadium on Sunday.

Meanwhile, the 4-1 victory over Sudan lit up Cameroun’s hopes of clinching an AfCON semi-final slot and World Cup berth in South Korea later this year.

The young Indomitable Lions could have taken an early lead in seconds but Preston Tabortetaka’s cracker was parried away by the Sudanese goalkeeper Mohamed Saeed and his rebound hit the side of the post.

Cameroun continued to mount pressure on Sudan and their hard work paid off in the ninth minute when Ketu Jih shot directly into the unguarded goal after benefitting from an Eric Ayuk cross from the right flank, to put the West Africans in the lead.

Jih was lethal and almost added two goals before the break but his thunderbolt shot was saved by Saeed while he headed above the target in the second attempt.

Cameroun doubled the score in the 57th minute when Ayuk headed home  Frabrice Ngah’s cross to net his second goal of the tournament.

In the 74th minute, the Junior Indomitable Lions made it 3-0 through their captain Samuel Oum Gouet, blazing home a left-footed volley which left the Sudanese goalkeeper in shock.

But six minutes later, Sudan’s Walaa Musa dispossessed a Cameroonian defender who had been passed the ball by his goalkeeper in the 18-metre box to score the consolation for Sudan.

Olivier Mbaissidara restored the Indomitable Lions’ dominance, scoring the fourth goal after a solo effort, beating several sleepy Sudanese defenders on his way towards goal.

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All is set for the ‘Road to Anfield’

By GRACE CHAILE-LESOETSA

Matambo disclosed that the tournament has attracted more than 10 teams, drawing participation from the media, Zambeef, Zamtel and youths from Nkoloma ward.

“Road to Anfield’’ is hinged on the bank’s global sponsorship of Liverpool Football Club. This is the second time that Zambia is taking part in the Standard Chartered trophy.

“It is an international five-a-side football tournament that lasts eight minutes. The tournament provides local markets with a platform from which to actively engage football fans and also help them donate to charity in order to develop football,” she said.

She said the winning team from Zambia will compete in the Southern Africa regional ‘‘Road to Anfield’’ tournament set for March 18 in Gaborone against champions from hosts Botswana and Zimbabwe.

She predicted a tough competition from the participating teams.

“Standard Chartered is proud to bring ‘Road to Anfield’ back to Zambia for the second time. We wish all the teams the best on Saturday.

‘‘The regional champions team will get a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to travel to Liverpool, UK, in May – all expenses paid by Standard Chartered Bank,” she said.

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Zambia clinch 2 hockey AfCON slots

By GRACE CHAILE-LESOETSA

The women team beat hosts Tanzania 3-0 while the men edged Malawi 1-0 in the finals to win the President’s Cup held in Arusha on Sunday.

Zambia Hockey Association (ZHA) coordinator and head coach Thomas Mumba hailed the two teams for qualifying to the continental tournament.

Mumba said the discipline, dedication and hard work exhibited by the players earned Zambia the maiden qualification to the AfCON.

“This is the first time Zambia is making it to the hockey AfCON tournament. It was not an easy run especially that all the competing countries where eyeing the remaining one spot. The boys and girls have done Zambia proud,” he said.

He said the two teams will begin preparations for the tournament immediately.

He said August was not far and therefore the players should not be complacent.

“The work has just started. These teams are expected to start training immediately to keep the players in shape. The task ahead is bigger than what we have achieved so far, there is no time to relax,” he said.

Meanwhile, Mumba called on Government, the corporate world and other organisations to assist the teams materially and financially.

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Zambia braces for Afrobasket qualifiers

By MICHAEL MIYOBA

Zambia and Zimbabwe will next month host the qualifiers for the prestigious basketball tournament which kicks off on August 17.

According to the draws which took place in Maputo, Mozambique, Zambia will host Angola, South Africa and Madagascar in group H which is the final round of the qualifiers.

And Zambia Basketball Association secretary general Mweembe Kaona said ZBF will do everything possible to ensure that Zambia qualifies for this year’s tournament after failing to do so since 1989.

“Our target is to ensure that we qualify for the Afrobasket championship for the first time since 1989. Right now preparations are on course,” Kaoma said.

“The coaches are about to select the final team that will represent the country during the qualifiers,” he added.

Mozambique, Seychelles, Botswana and hosts Zimbabwe will battle it out in group H of the FIBA Afrobasket qualifiers.

Both Seychelles and Madagascar are members of FIBA Africa Zone 7 but have been drawn in Zone 6. Group G will be played from 12-18 March, while Group H will run from 19-25. The qualifiers will be played in a round-robin format with each team taking on its three opponents.

The winner of each group will secure automatic qualification for Africa’s flagship competition taking place in Brazzaville, while the teams that finish second in Groups G and H will face each other for the remaining qualification spot.

Zambia, who last featured in the final round of the continental event in 1989, are looking at the qualifiers as an opportunity of changing the course of  basketball history.

Zimbabwe on the other hand ended a two-decade long absence from FIBA Afrobasket two years ago when they played in Tunisia and returned home with a 0-5 thrashing.