CHIPOLOPOLO DOWN TOOLS, DEMAND ALLOWANCES

By Darious Kapembwa in Ndola(The Mast)

FOUR days before they take on Chad in the back-to-back AfCON qualifiers, senior Chipolopolo players have gone on strike in protest against their unpaid allowances from previous engagements.

Government owes Chipolopolo players several allowances dating back to the last AfCON that was staged in Ivory Coast, including last month’s camp and winning bonuses against Sierra Leone.

The team has camped in Ndola preparing for the crucial Friday encounter.

But after Tuesday’s afternoon training session, the players told head coach Avram Grant’s bench that they would not train anymore until they are paid what they are owed.

The players have also informed FAZ general secretary Reuben Kamanga and the Ministry of Sport about their decision.

“We have now made it clear to everybody that this is the last training session we were having. Imagine being told stories from January! And when we beat Sierra Leone here, the minister came to the dressing room and promised us yet again, but for how long,” players who spoke through one of their colleagues told The Mast.

They also revealed that there is no enthusiasm among their colleagues in the diaspora to sacrifice for the flag because it amounted to nothing.

“Look, this is why our colleagues can’t even sacrifice to come with their knocks. We are not saying they are not injured, but it’s a situation where even the slightest of knocks people can’t sacrifice because what are you sacrificing for,” they said.

There was visible panic on the technical bench and officials after the players delivered the news immediately after training.

Before the game against Sierra Leone last month, players encircled FAZ president Andrew Kamanga and his executive members that attended the final training session on similar protests, with Kamanga promising to give them something just for upkeep whilst in camp.

Zambia host Chad on Friday before travelling to Yaounde, Cameroon for the return match four days later.