By MICHAEL MIYOBA
THE Zambia Football Coaches Association (ZaFCA) has urged MTN Super League clubs to stop the unnecessary dismissal of coaches by sending them on “administrative leave.”
ZaFCA vice president Lewis Shambulo said it is unfortunate that the best coaches in the Super League are losing their jobs because administrators are in a hurry to see their teams qualify for the CAF games.
Reacting to the latest dismissal of Zanaco FC coach Chris Kaunda, Shamumbo said it is unfortunate that the best coaches are the ones being sidelined.
Kaunda’s dismissal came a few days after Tennant Chilumba and Mohamed Fathi were placed on administrative leave by Forest Rangers and Napsa Stars respectively.
Shambula urged clubs to stop the trend of putting coaches under pressure to attain success when football is a team sport.
He said clubs can play their part by sending coaches for refresher courses abroad instead of threatening them with dismissals when the team is not doing well.
“What has surprised us is that clubs are using ‘administrative leave’ to fire coaches instead of dismissing because they realise that they have those contract obligations which would attract court sanctions if not followed,” Shambulo said.
“Clubs are using the term ‘administrative leave’ so that they can negotiate with the coaches so that when a coach goes, he can be getting paid until their contract comes to an end.
“Which is okay because coaches are not leaving without nothing but we are concerned as ZaFCA because when you look at the statistics, the best coaches are the ones who have been sidelined that is why we are very worried because our game of football is put on the line,” Shambulo said.
He said ZaFCA has engaged FAZ so that each time coaches are engaged by a club they must also submit the contracts to FAZ and ZAFCA so that they can be protected when problems of unfair dismissals arise.
