FAZ president, Andrew Kamanga has slammed Sports Minister Elvis Nkandu over the Barcelona and 2012 Chipolopolo Legends game. The match is set to be held on the 25th of May 2023 at the Heroes National Stadium in Lusaka.
Kamanga has said the game is not a social game and the use of the 2012 Nike jersey is illegal.
Speaking during a press briefing on Sunday, he stated that using the jersey for commercial purposes would have legal ramifications.
“We are raising our concern purely based on the fact that the game is not a social game as it has been portrayed,” he said. “It’s actually a commercial game because people will be paying to go and watch the game. So in that respect, it changes from being a social activity to a commercial activity.”
“If you are having a commercial activity, then the rights of FAZ or the commercial interest of FAZ should obviously be considered, and I think this is where we are saying if this game goes ahead and there is commercial interest, where are we sitting as FAZ?” asked Kamanga.
He added that the jersey may be an old one but it is still a property of the association.
“Yes, the jersey is an old one; it’s from Nike, but it does have the logo of FAZ… And I think this is where we have to respect copyright as well as intellectual property. So even if one attempted to remove the FAZ logo, that jersey still remains a property of FAZ and Nike.”
Kamanga takes dig minister of sports
Kamanga further claimed that the sports minister, Elvis Nkandu, falsely accused him and his administration of opposing the Barcelona vs. Chipolopolo Legends 2012 game and disrespecting the government.
“It’s unfair to point fingers and say that we are doing something wrong here,” Kamanga bemoaned. “I am law-abiding, I respect authority, I respect the ministry, and I have always respected the ministry.’
Kamanga also accused the minister of previously working as a campaign manager for former FAZ president Kalushya Bwalya in the 2016 elections.
He has challenged the minister to declare his interest in the matter.
“It will also be helpful for the minister to declare interest in this matter because the minister and Kalusha (Bwalya) have come a long way; even in the elections of 2016, the minister was campaign manager for Kalusha.”
