Clifford Mulenga, a former winger for Chipolopolo, has urged Zambian football clubs and academies to hire project managers to supervise the nation’s infrastructure development.

Mulenga is currently in Morocco with the Zambian Under-17 National team for the ongoing Africa Cup of Nations. Mulenga works as a Youth Development Officer for the Football Association of Zambia.

He says clubs must create simple plans for infrastructure so that the government and other stakeholders can finance.

“So maybe it is high time clubs and academies come up with proper infrastructure plans and engage local government and the private sector to help fund these projects.“

Some school fields only need to be improved, he continued.

“Some schools have football pitches that need renovations. Clubs and academies can partner with the schools on such projects and engage the ministries of education and sports for these infrastructure developments,” he said.

He continued, “The reality is that our clubs and academies have for a long time not helped with building proper sports facilities, and it’s time they change their club setups and make investment in infrastructure a priority.

“Clubs should also invest in project managers to oversee such developments.”