Munaile Speaks Out on Simataa Life Ban EMMANUEL Munaile yesterday asked the FAZ appeals committee to quickly convene a meeting and make a conclusive determination on soccer administrator Simataa Simataa’s life ban from football activities. Commenting on Simataa’s statement that the Football Association of Zambia had abrogated its constitution by not responding to his life ban appeal letter within the stipulated period, Munaile, a former FAZ vice-president, said the association needed to follow laid down procedures in dealing with Simataa’s case. “The constitution has provided that any aggrieved party must appeal to the appeals committee, and that appeals committee of the Football Association of Zambia is set up by the council. Whether they sat or did not sit, for me that case still remains in the hands of the appeals committee. It must be determined,” he said. “For example, if the appeals committee upholds what the executive or the disciplinary committee determined, Simataa still has an option to appeal to the main executive. There are these channels and these channels must be followed. They have to be exhausted.” Munaile explained that the FAZ appeals committee was set up to hear appeals from any aggrieved party. “When the case is determined you have another option, but it cannot go to the next level before one level has not been dealt with the case,” he said. Munaile advised the committee to quickly meet and conclusively discuss Simataa’s case. “That is the procedural thing in any matter. Even in the courts of law, if the High Court sentences you, you have the right to appeal to the Supreme Court, not so? Even in this case, the appeals committee is put in place so that those who are not happy with the disciplinary committee can appeal,” said Munaile. And when contacted, appeals committee chairperson Mumba Kapumpa said he was not allowed to discuss the committee’s affairs in public. Kapumpa referred all queries to FAZ communications manager Nkweto Tembwe. “Talk to the spokesperson of FAZ because as you know I am just the chair, I don’t work for FAZ. I can’t speak on behalf of FAZ or any of its bodies. The only person who can give you details is Tembwe because he is FAZ, I am not FAZ. I am chairman of the FAZ appeals committee, but not FAZ. Imagine you have a case in court and then the judge is now making comments on your case in the papers, will that be correct? It wouldn’t be correct,” said Kapumpa. Last month, FAZ banned Simataa for life, accusing him of issuing remarks against the association. But in an interview on Friday, Simataa, who is Division Two side Mtendere Football Club coach, said it was shameful that the association had failed to abide by its constitution. “I appealed to them 32 days ago, why should I appeal again? I will not appeal to them. The normal message of communication they use to me is through email. Usually, they would send an email, and then they will follow up with a registered letter through Fedex. In both channels, I have heard nothing,” said Simataa. Efforts to get a comment from Tembwe and FAZ general secretary George Kasengele proved futile by press time yesterday. Source: The Post zambiareports/2014/05/12/munaile-speaks-simataa-life-ban/
Posted on: Mon, 12 May 2014 11:57:20 +0000
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