The Football Association of Zambia (FAZ) has attributed the failure by young players to sustain their football careers to lack of self-discipline. FAZ Media Manager, Godfrey Chikumbi, said many talented players fail to progress to senior and professional football because of…

The Football Association of Zambia (FAZ) has attributed the failure by young players to sustain their football careers to lack of self-discipline.

FAZ Media Manager, Godfrey Chikumbi, said many talented players fail to progress to senior and professional football because of poor discipline and lack of guidance.

Chikumbi was speaking in an interview with the media at Football House in Lusaka.

He appealed to parents, guardians and other stakeholders to counsel their children playing football if they are to sustain their careers.

Mr Chikumbi has since called for continuous counselling of young players by parents to help them sustain their careers.

He said FAZ only spends little time with young players as most of the time they are in the communities with parents, hence the need to take good care of them.

“Do not leave the job of counselling players to FAZ alone as they spend very little time with them when they are in camp,” Chikumbi said.

Chikumbi alleged that most young players start indulging in illicit activities such as abusing drugs and other things, when they start doing well and become popular,

He said the behaviour has made most of them fail to excel in their careers.

The FAZ Media Manager also appealed to young players to emulate old players whose football careers lasted long due to self-discipline.