Tue, 07 Mar 2017 08:17:00 +0000
By MICHAEL MIYOBA
The organization of the under-20 AfCON is perfect and CAF has no regrets for giving Zambia the chance to host the competition, says Confederation of African Football (CAF) president, Issa Hayatou.
Hayatou said CAF was satisfied with the organization of the ongoing Total U-20 Africa Cup of Nations by Zambia
“Even before the kick-off of the competition, we had been meeting with the local organising committee which has done a great job so far; and these few days into the competitions have confirmed that, and Zambia has played its role with much seriousness”, the CAF president said.
And FAZ says it is impressed with the level of order and the spirit of togetherness the Zambian soccer fans have exhibited during the under 20 AfCON tournament.
Speaking in an exclusive interview with Daily Nation sports in Lusaka FAZ communications manager Desmond Katongo noted that the crowds have been “too” impressive considering the fact the tournament involved junior national teams.
“The CAF technical team together with the Local Organizing Committee is impressed with the level of order and the spirit of togetherness the Zambian soccer fans have exhibited to all the competing teams. The crowds have also been too impressive especially considering the fact that this is a junior tournament.
“We are proud of our fans and we urge them to continue supporting the Junior Chipolopolo Boys in a spirit of calm and
togetherness,” Katongo said.
Meanwhile Katongo said FAZ did not deliberately select Lusaka’s National Heroes stadium as venue for Zambia’s Total Under-20 Africa Cup of Nations fixtures.
Katongo noted that the association understood the level of frustration facing Copperbelt based soccer fans who were used to watching international games involving Zambia from the Levy Mwanawasa stadium.
He said that CAF traditionally allows the host country to play their group matches in the
capital city.
“During the 2010 World Cup, South Africa played all its group stage games in Johannesburg while the same principle was applied by FIFA for the Brazil 2014 World Cup who played all its group games in Rio De Janeiro.
“And we need to first understand that there was a draw done in Cairo which saw teams being paired in different groups. Secondly, we were given the privilege to play all our group stage games from Lusaka by virtue of being the host country,” Katongo said.
FAZ has therefore called on soccer fans from the Copperbelt to continue supporting the junior Chipolopolo noting that progression to the semi-finals of the Total U-20 and subsequent qualification to the World Cup was an achievement which should make every soccer loving Zambian happy.
