LUSAKA, June 17 (Xinhua) -- The Zambian government on Monday commended its soccer governing body for coming up with a winning strategy that has seen the country lift a regional title for the fifth time.
Minister of Sports, Youth and Child Development Moses Mawere said the government was happy that the national soccer team has started recording positive results resulting in the lifting of the 2019 Cosafa Cup tournament.
He said the lifting of the cup has come at a time when soccer loving Zambians had lost hope in the team especially after failing to qualify to the Africa Cup finals on two consecutive occasions.
"On behalf of President Lungu, indeed on my own behalf and that of the Zambian people especially the football loving Zambians, we are very proud of this achievement. It has come at a time when all of us were losing hope that maybe football in Zambia is dwindling," he said after he was presented with the cup by Football Association of Zambia (FAZ) president Andrew Kamanga.
The minister advised the soccer governing body to ensure that the winning trend continues.
For his part, the soccer chief outlined the strategy being implemented to secure more titles for the national teams.
He added that despite failing to qualify for the 2019 Africa soccer showpiece which kicks off on June 21 in Egypt, the soccer body has embarked on preparations to ensure that the team not only participates but wins the 2021 Africa Cup as well as the 2020 African Nations Championship (CHAN).
"Zambia is a footballing nation, you can't take this away from us," he said.
