FAZ says the rehabilitation works at the Solwezi Independence Stadium are not complete and will make the “final touches.”

The FAZ secretary general, Reuben Kamanga, said in a statement on Monday that the stadium was opened to host matches after the completion of works on the pitch to help Solwezi-based clubs cut travel costs as they were forced to play league matches on the Copperbelt province.

“We wish to set the record straight over the works on the Independence Stadium in Solwezi. Just like we did for the already completed David Kaunda Stadium, we will have an official handover of the Independence Stadium in Solwezi with FIFA representatives, government officials, local authorities, and FAZ. The handover will be preceded by a thorough inspection to be done by all the stakeholders,” Kamanga said.

He continued: “We gave a provisional green light for Independence Stadium to be used for some games as the local teams were burdened with the cost of playing their home matches on the Copperbelt.”

The Independence Stadium is Northwestern Province’s only FAZ-certified stadium for Super League games. It is the home of Kansanshi Dynamos and Trident Football Club.

Three more FIFA-funded projects are pending in Zambia

Meanwhile, after the David Kaunda stadium in Chipita, the Solwezi stadium is the second of five projects being rehabilitated by FAZ under the FIFA Forward program.

In September last, FAZ and FIFA officially handed over the refurbished David Kaunda (D.K) Stadium in Chipata.

Other stadiums that are pending rehabilitation under the FIFA Forward program are Kaole (Luapula province) and Kasama (Northern Province). An accommodation center is also one of the projects pending.

The total cost of the projects is US$1.5 million, with each costing US$300,000.

Following the public backlash over the subpar works in Solwezi, Kamanga says the contractor was still working “on final touches.”