Following Nora Häuptle’s subtle announcement of stepping down as head coach for the Copper Queens, the Football Association of Zambia (FAZ) has disclosed that the Swiss trainer asked the association to reduce her salary by 50% in order to take up other jobs while still remaining head coach of Zambia.
Häuptle criticized the Copper Queens’ preparations ahead of the FIFA Series. She subtly announced that she had stepped down from her role before the tournament in Brazil, citing concerns over the direction of women’s football development in Zambia.
In a strongly worded LinkedIn statement, Häuptle emphasized the need for long-term planning and structural reforms. She outlined a 10-point plan addressing key issues such as securing more high-level international matches, improving travel logistics, ensuring consistent leadership within FAZ, adopting better technology, and strengthening financial planning, including player allowances.
In response, FAZ head of media and communication, Nkweto Tembwe, has dismissed the claims that the association has failed in its role in preparing the team, revealing that Häuptle asked to reduce her salary and take up other jobs elsewhere.
“Coach Häuptle has formally engaged FAZ, seeking to alter the terms of her contract, seeking to change some parts of her contract, and among her requests is a proposal to reduce her salary by up to 50% to enable her to take up additional employment elsewhere while the contract with the Copper Queens is running,” Tembwe revealed.
“This raises a question of commitment and professional focus. The position of national team coach, you will agree with me, demands full dedication, and any arrangement that potentially compromises this focus and this expectation must be carefully considered in the best interest of the team and the nation, and indeed all of the taxpayers from which this salary comes,” he added.
Nora drags FAZ to FIFA
Tembwe further disclosed that Häuptle has requested to be relieved of her responsibilities as technical advisor to the junior national teams.
He further revealed that she has lodged a complaint with FIFA, demanding compensation, including bonuses for future matches, despite ongoing engagements with FAZ.
“These engagements have remained ongoing. Unfortunately, the matter has since escalated. Coach Hauptle, on Saturday, 11th of April, submitted further claims to FIFA, including demands for compensation tied to future events that have not yet occurred, such as qualification, bonuses, and tournament-winning incentives for competitions like the FIFA Women’s World Cup.
“These demands presumed Zambia would win all the games at WAFCON and qualify for the World Cup. And the coach is demanding bonuses for games that are yet to be played,” Tembwe said.
FAZ has since initiated a “robust legal response, which will be submitted to FIFA through the appropriate channels. The nation will be duly informed of the outcome of these negotiations.”
Meanwhile, Häuptle has not confirmed these revelations by FAZ. Efforts to get a comment from her proved futile by the time of this publication.
She was appointed as the Copper Queens head coach on a three-year deal in January 2025, replacing Bruce Mwape.
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