Controversy brewing from the Zebras-Zambia clash?

The aftermath of the 2014African Nations Championships(CHAN) qualifi erhas unearthed controversial decisionsmade by Zambia. The Zebrasand Chipolopolo drew 1-1 atthe Molepolole Sports Complexthis past weekend in the fi rst leg.The visitors named 20 playerson their match day list breachingCAF rules, prompting theBotswana Football Association(BFA) to investigate the matter.According to the BFA ChiefExecutive Offi cer, Keith Masters,CAF rules state that each teamshould submit a list of 18 playersone hour before kickoff.

 

Thispublication is reliably informedthat match offi cials informed theBFA that FIFA had amended itsrules to allow teams to name 12substitutes.However, the amendmentswere only made for the preliminarystages of the 2014 WorldCup qualifi ers, not other competitions.The amended rules statethat teams should have 23 playerson the match sheet, 11 players and12 substitutes.Stanley Tshosane’s side compliedwith the CAF rules by namingthe stipulated number of playersand they feel cheated by theformer African champions. “Theyhad an unfair advantage becausetheir list consisted of two extranames. They had more options onthe bench but we were restrictedto naming only seven substituteswhile they had the luxury ofchoosing from nine players,” saidTshosane in an interview with GazetteSport.

 

The BFA is still investigatingthe matter with the view of reportingthe case to CAF once theyconclude their search.Meanwhile, there were reportsthat Zambia’s most infl uentialplayer Mukuka Mulenga hadsigned a deal with South Africanside Mamelodi Sundowns lastweek. That would have barredhim from participating in thematch this past weekend becausethe competition only allows locallybased players to participatein the tourney.A car imprinted with the Sundownslogo was spotted at thestadium. Sources state that theplayer travelled to Pretoria withthe club’s offi cials to conclude themove. On Sunday media reportsconfi rmed that Mulenga signeda deal with the South African giants.

 

This means that he will not participatein the second leg againstBotswana this Saturday due tohis move to the former PremierSoccer League (PSL) champions.The unavailability of the 20 yearold midfi elder will surely give Zebrashope of qualifying to the nextround. Mulenga was named thePlayer of the Tournament in therecent COSAFA Cup and he is thereigning Zambian Footballer of theYear.The second leg will take place onSaturday at the Levy MwanawasaStadium in Ndola and the matchwill start at 3pm. The team whichprogresses from the clash will faceeither Zimbabwe or Mauritius inthe fi nal qualifying round.