FAZ pays US$520,000, restructures Asanovic debt to 2028
By Adrian Mwanza
THE Football Association of Zambia (FAZ) has so far paid US$520,000 and successfully restructured the outstanding balance owed to former Chipolopolo head coach Aljosa Asanovic, with repayments now scheduled to run until 2028.
Presenting his report to the FAZ Executive Committee meeting held at Football House on Saturday, FAZ General Secretary Machacha Shepande described the settlement process as long and laborious.
Shepande told the Executive Committee that the current administration inherited the Asanovic case in default following a 2023 FIFA ruling, which ordered FAZ to pay the Croatian coach US$1,252,526.10.
He said due to the magnitude of the financial obligation, FAZ president Keith Mweemba made it a priority to personally engage FIFA president Gianni Infantino in a one-on-one meeting.
This was followed by further engagements involving the FAZ leadership team in Miami, Florida, aimed at finding a mitigating and sustainable solution to the debt.
Shepande also confirmed that FAZ held several meetings with its foreign-based lawyers and Asanovic’s legal representatives as part of the restructuring process.
“We requested a longer repayment period to allow the Association some financial relief and enable us to channel resources to other competing priorities,” Shepande told the Executive Committee.
He expressed regret over the situation, noting that FAZ was operating under severe financial pressure at a time when Zambian football required significant investment across many areas.
“It is regrettable that funds meant to improve the welfare of football in the country are being channeled to a cost centre that could have been avoided. It is painful that a dispute of US$20,000 ended up attracting a penalty of over one million dollars,” Shepande said.
He clarified that although Asanovic’s initial claim was about US$41,000, the former coach later agreed to accept US$20,000 and part ways with FAZ by mutual consent.
“One wonders why in 2023 FAZ declined the proposed settlement at the time. Of course, this standoff forced Asanovic to escalate the matter to FIFA. The dispute then attracted FIFA intervention, which ended in a ruling in favour of Asanovic and a US$1,252,526.10 obligation on FAZ. This has affected us badly,” Shepande lamented.
Under the restructured payment plan, FAZ will continue to receive its FIFA grants, with agreed deductions for the Asanovic settlement running until 2028. By that time, the outstanding balance of US$732,526.10 is expected to be fully cleared.
This is contained in a statement issued by FAZ head of media and communications, Nkweto Tembwe.
