FAZ Provides Update on Independence Stadium in Solwezi
The Football Association of Zambia (FAZ) has issued a statement regarding the progress of the Independence Stadium in Solwezi, funded by FIFA.
FAZ General Secretary Reuben Kamanga clarified that while the pitch works have been completed, final touches are still ongoing for the civil works.
Kamanga emphasized that FAZ, along with FIFA representatives, government officials, and local authorities, will conduct a thorough inspection before the official handover of the stadium.
This approach mirrors the procedure followed for the recently completed David Kaunda Stadium.
Acknowledging the local teams’ financial strain from playing home matches on the Copperbelt, FAZ provisionally approved the use of Independence Stadium for games, pending the completion of remaining infrastructure work.
Regarding funding allocation, Kamanga clarified that the majority of the US$300,000 allocated for the project was dedicated to installing the natural pitch.
He clarified that the FIFA funds were designated for rehabilitation, not for constructing a new stadium, to manage public expectations accurately.
FAZ, in collaboration with FIFA, received USD1.5 million for multiple projects, including provincial stadia and accommodation centers.
The projects encompassed various aspects such as pitch installation, perimeter wall fence, ticketing offices, ablution blocks, dressing rooms, and civil works on the grandstand.
The refurbishment of the David Kaunda Stadium in Chipata, which FAZ handed over to FIFA, was officiated by the Minister of Youth, Sport, and Arts, Honorable Elvis Nkandu MP, on September 23, 2023.
Sydney Mungala, Communications Manager of Football Association of Zambia assures stakeholders and the public of the commitment to ensuring the timely completion and quality of the Independence Stadium project, reflecting the organization’s dedication to fostering football development across Zambia.
