FOOTBALL Association of Zambia (FAZ) president Andrew Kamanga has opened up about the constant calls for his resignation whenever the national team underperforms, saying it has become a familiar pattern in Zambian football.
Kamanga, who has been at the helm of FAZ since 2016, said despite having a clearly defined role that focuses on administration, meetings, and official duties, he often finds himself at the centre of blame when results on the pitch do not go in Zambia’s favour.
Speaking when he featured on Kenny T one on one podcast, he explained that while coaches are responsible for team selection, tactics, and performance on the pitch, and players are credited when the team wins, the backlash when the team loses almost always lands squarely on his shoulders.
The FAZ boss noted that even when he has no direct hand in the technical and tactical decisions of the team, public sentiment quickly shifts to “Kamanga must go” whenever things don’t go according to plan, something he has come to live with over the years.
He said in good times, the players and coaches receive all the praise for their success, but when results turn sour, fingers point back to him, regardless of the circumstances.
“I only sit there to chair meetings and attend to official functions,” Kamanga said.
“But what will always interest you is when the team loses, it’s Kamanga to blame, yet the coach is there to deal with the lineups and all those things. When the team wins, it’s the players who have done very well. So, as you would expect, [when the team loses] it’s ‘Kamanga must go’.”
By George Musonda
Kalemba April 29, 2025
