STADIA & TEC. CENTRE TO BE UPGRADED

The Football Association of Zambia (FAZ) has commenced the FIFA-funded upgrade of the Technical Centre into an accommodation facility with four blocks, a canteen, a change room, and a guard room.

FAZ has secured FIFA funding under the contract of agreed objectives that are tied to the 10-year strategic plan. A check at the hitherto Technical Centre by the FAZ media team revealed that the contractor has moved on-site with some preliminary works done for the overhaul of the Technical Centre.

FAZ ran public tenders for the works in 2020 with the stringent FIFA prescribed process followed culminating in the approval of the project. Previously the Technical Centre housed junior teams during camps but with the proposed upgrade it could be a one-stop center for various national teams. The upgrade of the accommodation center is part of the wide-ranging infrastructural revolution that FAZ has embarked on with four provincial stadia next on the roster.

FAZ has already submitted all the paperwork for the four provincial stadia namely Kaole (Mansa), Kasama (Northern Province), David Kaunda (Eastern), and Independence (Solwezi). Additionally, Maramba Stadium has also been added although under a separate support program. Government has rendered the requisite 25-year leases for the stadia demanded by FIFA to provide support for the stadia upgrade.

FAZ General Secretary Adrian Kashala says everything has been concluded on the FAZ side with only the FIFA support being awaited.“We have completed all the processes that FIFA has guided us all the way. We are mindful that this is a very laborious process with strict conditions that we have followed to the letter. In line with the transparency that we preach and practice, we are certain that the stadia upgrade will be a huge success,” Kashala says.“It has taken long because of the stringent measures that FIFA requires members to follow as this is not a Father Christmas scenario bur access to funds that have to be thoroughly accounted for.”Kashala says the accommodation centre will ease the burden of camping teams for international and local engagements.“The upgrade of stadia which will eventually touch all provinces will be tied to the FAZ decentralization program that has taken football to the provinces,” he says.“Infrastructural development will help drive the grassroots program that is at the heart of the current FAZ executive.”

SOURCE: OFFICIAL FAZ FACEBOOK PAGE