Zambia - The Sports Council of Zambia (SCZ) has expressed hope that wrangles that have rocked the Football Association of Zambia (FAZ) would be finally put to rest following the guidance from the world soccer governing body FIFA on the contentious vote of no-confidence motion. SCZ general secretary Rodgers Chipili said in an interview in Lusaka yesterday that he was happy that FIFA had given FAZ guidelines and urged delegates to attend the March 26 annual general meeting (AGM) to follow what had been outlined. Chipili said it was time that the matter was put to bed during the AGM set for Moba Hotel in Kitwe with focus to be put on organising the game that has suffered since the wrangles started late last year.

He said the country had wasted a lot of time on the issue at the expense of the sports development and that the meeting should exhaust the matter during its meeting.

"We are happy with the guidance that FIFA has given FAZ and it is time that we put this matter to bed and focused on organising the game," he said.

FAZ life member Luxon Kazabu said what FIFA did was what was being advocated for and the matter should come up at the meeting so that it was dealt with.

Kazabu said it was good that FIFA had offered guidance following FAZ insistence that the vote of no-confidence motion could not be tabled during the AGM as it was not in the constitution.

And speaking during a media briefing at Football House yesterday, FAZ communications manager Erick Mwanza said the association was pleased that FIFA had clarified the outcome of the December 20 Zurich meeting by restating what was agreed.

Mwanza said the letter from FIFA secretary general's letter addressed to president Kalusha Bwalya provides FAZ and all members' guidance on the forthcoming AGM.

"Football House wishes to put on record 'that we shall work towards achieving the necessary outcome of the AGM. We still reaffirm that there is nowhere in the world where one can pass a vote of no-confidence without providing the necessary reasons for such action," Mwanza said.

FIFA in its letter addressed to FAZ Kalusha dated March 7 and signed by secretary general Jerome Valcke, also copied to CAF and Kamanga, compelled FAZ to include the motion of non-confidence.

Valcke said the petitioners were not obliged to submit a charge against the executive committee but it was admitted that they should have the possibility to justify their request at a certain stage.

Valcke said all participants at the Zurich meeting on December 20 agreed that a motion of non-confidence could be put on the agenda provided it followed the proper procedure and that the request of Mazabuka United did satisfy the criteria and, therefore, the motion must be put on the agenda in accordance with article 26 paragraph 2 (x)

Times of Zambia/10/03/2011