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By SANDRA MWILA –
ZAMBIA risks being banned from participating at next month’s Africa Union Sports Commission (AUSC) Region Five Games if Football Association of Zambia (FAZ) does not send the Under-20 team.
Deputy director of Sport, Gibson Muyaule said the football team could be banned from competing in the regional sports spectacle if a different team other than the accredited Under-20 would be sent to Zimbabwe.
Confusion has rocked FAZ over which team to send to Zimbabwe for the AUSC Region Five Games with the Under-17 also being considered for the December 4-14 assignment.
But Muyaule, who is AUSC Region Five Games delegation leader, said only the Under-20 team would be allowed to participate because it was accredited for the sports festival.
Muyaule said he saw no reason for uncertainty on the team to travel to Zimbabwe since FAZ technical director Honour Janza submitted an Under-20 list for accreditation in March.
“Janza submitted an Under-20 list in March and this is an Under-20 tournament and I see no reason why FAZ should still be uncertain on which team should be going.
“The football team risks being banned if they send a different team to the tournament other than the Under-20 team that was accreditated,” he said.
Mauyaule said the accreditation deadline was March 31 and all Zambian athletes’ were submitted to AUCS Region Five Games organisers.
He also said the list received from FAZ indicated participation of the Under-20 squad.
But FAZ executive member in charge of the youth, Lee Kawanu said the association was pondering on making changes to the team to include both Under-17 and 20 players.
Kawanu said both the national Under-17 and 20 squads qualified to their respective African championships and that it would be good to send a mixed team.
“We are trying to change the list and include both the Under-17 and 20 because both teams qualified to their respective championships and need exposure,” he said.
The Zambia Under-20 qualified to the Senegal 2015 African Youth Championship, while the Under-17 will participate at the Niger 2015 Africa Junior Championship.
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