The Football Association of Zambia (FAZ) Disciplinary Committee banned MTN Super League side Nkana FC striker Alex “BAZO” Ng’onga until the end of the current season, and he was also slapped with a K20, 000 fine to be paid for being in breach of Article 48 of the FAZ Disciplinary Code.
Ng’onga lost his cool and kicked a Supersport TV pitchside microphone as he exited the pitch during a Week 14 Super League match between Nkana and Power Dynamos played on November 19, 2022, at Nkana Stadium.
But Football Allied Workers Union of Zambia (FAWUZA) President Sanders Kumwenda said that the ban imposed on Ng’onga was too harsh and the Disciplinary Committee should have exercised some leniency on the player.
In an exclusive interview with Bola News, Kumwenda stated that FAWUZ considers the best course of action is to help him alter and modify his conduct rather than barring him from playing for the remainder of the season, which he believes will harm his career.
“As a union, we are concerned with the ban and fine that was imposed on BAZO,” he said. “From my point of view, of course, he was wrong; he did something wrong. Now looking at the punishment, if you look at the nature of the job, and you ban him for 17 games, this means that we are ending his career prematurely.
“In as much as we know that there were some mistakes, we are supposed to help him also, because, after 17 games, we never know what will happen once he returns.”
He continued by saying that in order for the player to serve as a positive role model for younger players, he needs to be helped not condemned.
“When you look at him, he is an influential figure in his team and their players, who look up to him at his club and also upcoming players, which is why there is a need to help him become a better person in society,” said Kumwenda.
Meanwhile, Nkana F.C. Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Kelvin Mutafu said that the club appealed the verdict and hoped that the appeals committee would reconsider the disciplinary committee’s ruling so that he could be given a lighter punishment.
He also disclosed that Ng’onga was currently undergoing some social counseling to help him manage his anger.
FAWUZ is confident that the move by the club to appeal the verdict will help lessen the sanctions imposed on Ng’onga.
