By ALEX NJOVUMINISTER of Sport and Youth Chishimba Kambwili has appealed to mining companies to assist in paying US$100,000 salaries and allowances for national soccer team coach Herve Renard and his assistant Patrice Beameule.
And Kambwili has said Government has revived sports festivals that were held by the Zambia Consolidated Copper Mines (ZCCM) but will now be called Allied Workers Industries festivals.
Speaking during a press briefing yesterday in Kitwe after he held a private meeting with Mopani Copper Mines (MCM) chief executive officer Danny Callow, Kambwili said it is important that the Zambia national soccer team maintains its status as Africa champions.
He called on mining companies to assist in paying salaries and allowances for the two coaches.
“We are African champions and we want to maintain the standards. We are appealing to mining houses to help in paying the US$100,000 to the two coaches. Previously Kansanshi Mine was helping but we don’t want to put the burden on one mine,” Kambwili said.
He said he is on a tour of mining houses to meet the respective managements on how they could help revive sports in Zambia.
Kambwili said if all goes according to plan, the proposed sports festivals will be held later this year.
He regretted that sports on the Copperbelt has declined since the privatisation of ZCCM but assured that the Patriotic Front (PF) government is determined to revive sports.
Kambwili said it is unfortunate that Nkana, Mufulira Wanderers, Kalulushi Modern Stars and Chambishi football clubs are not performing well and called on the mining houses to ensure the teams are assisted in being rejuvenated.
“So far the response from the mining houses is overwhelming on various issues and we will continue talking to them,” Kambwili said.
He noted that the four mines in Kalulushi – Chambishi Metals, Chambishi Copper Smelter (CCS), Africa Non-Ferrous Mining Company (NFCA) and Chibuluma Mines could help in sponsoring the two clubs in Kalulushi.
Kambwili also called on the mining houses to help government in raising K113 billion needed to host the Zone Six Under-20 games in December this year.
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