MUKWIMA CHILALA writes
THE 2019/20 MTN FAZ Super League storm that was brewing around the crowning of Nkana FC and the replay of the Forest Rangers and Zanaco fixture on Sunday has now passed Sports Minister Emmanuel Mulenga has said.
“The dust has now settled and at the end of the day it is football that has won,” Mulenga said.
And FAZ president Andrew Kamanga has applauded Zanaco Football Club for showing a pure spirit of football.
Speaking in the aftermath of Nkana’s coronation on Sunday evening, Sports Minister Mulenga congratulated Nkana for winning unprecedented league title.
The Sports Minister notes that the result has now settled the dust after some Nkana fans took FAZ to Court and that at the end of the day Football has won.
“I congratulate Nkana for scooping this trophy and I should state that at the end of the day football has won. I say so because Nkana have been celebrating since Thursday and they thought Zanaco would not put up a good play but this outcome has settled the dust which started to rise because I hear soccer fans had petitioned FAZ executive and petitioned FAZ executive and their lawyer had written that they would go to court,” Mulenga said.
And Kamanga has also congratulated Nkana for winning a 13th title saying they put up a good fight.
The FAZ president further applauded Zanaco FC for showing pure spirit of Football.
Kamanga noted that it was with that, that Zanaco have been awarded with the Fair Play award.
“It was a well-earned victory as you know they were almost crowned on Thursday but we had to respect the decision of the appeals committee which ruled that Zanaco and Forest should play this game. Particularly we are happy that Zanaco has played this game and it only goes to show that they are committed to the game and for that reason we have given them a fair play award,” Kamanga said.
Nkana bagged a thirteenth title after the club was made to halt its celebration last Thursday following a decision by the FAZ appeals committee that ordered for a replay of the Week 26 game between Forest Rangers and Zanaco which ended in a draw.
Nkana last won a title in 2013 having earlier had a long spell in the lower Division.