"It's a significant challenge" - aspiring FAZ president on hosting AGM in L/Stone

Sydney Chisoko, an aspiring presidential candidate in the 2025 Football Association of Zambia (FAZ) elections, believes that holding the elective annual general meeting (AGM) in Livingstone will present logistical challenges to some stakeholders.

The FAZ Executive Committee decided on Monday to hold the elective AGM for 2025 on March 29 at the Fairmount Hotel in Livingstone.

Reuben Kamanga, the General Secretary of FAZ, stated that the decision was made in accordance with Article 27 of the constitution.

In an interview with BolaNews, Chisoko acknowledged that the FAZ constitution does not limit the AGM’s location to a specific town but argued that holding it in a central location would make attendance easier for stakeholders from various areas.

Chisoko observes that the AGM’s location could present financial challenges to many clubs that are already struggling to cover their expenses.

“Elections can take place anywhere; it’s not mandated by the constitution to hold them in a particular town. However, my worry stems from the unfavorable economic conditions affecting everyone in the country.

“Remember that we are dealing with football teams, the same administrators from football teams that are struggling financially. And when I heard that the Football Association of Zambia has taken the elections to Livingstone, my quickest thought was on the logistics of the administrators, or the councillors, who are going to vote.”

He pondered, “This, in itself, presents a significant challenge. Let’s think about our colleagues who must travel from Muchinga province, Northern province, Luapula province, and Northwestern province to reach Livingstone. How many hours of travel are we talking about?”

On Councilors covering own costs

Chisoko added that councillors are expected to cover their costs, which will add some emotional and financial stress to their budgets.

“It’s not just about emotional strain; there’s also a financial burden. Have we considered the total cost for someone traveling from Muchinga province to Livingstone and back?” he asked.

“It’s not in the constitution that during the elective AGM, the aspiring candidate or the current sitting executive is supposed to sponsor the councillors from wherever they are coming from; if anyone does that, automatically it’s affecting the outcome of the elections.”

Chisoko has suggested that going forward it would be ideal to hold such conferences in Lusaka or Kabwe to reduce costs for the stakeholders, including the media.

“If it was hosted in the central place, these things become very easy. It’s easy to travel from Livingston to Lusaka or Kabwe. It’s easy to travel from Muchinga, Northern, to Kabwe or Lusaka. Because you’ve just cut about 50% of the logistics.”

Meanwhile, Chisoko, who claims to have ten years of experience as a football administrator and owner of Hadara Academy, which plays at OYDC, has told BolaNews that he will submit his nomination online.

“I will be submitting my documents through the online link. If any issues arise, I will physically submit my documents on 7th February at Football House.”