Relief As Police FC’s Zambian Coach Gets Reduced Ban

The disciplinary committee of the national football federation (FERWAFA) has reviewed the tough punishment imposed on Albert Mpande, the Police FC head coach.

The Committee partially upheld the appeal lodged by the Zambian coach Mpande.

In decision issued May 18, but is only becoming public now, the committee reduced the ban imposed on Mpande for misconduct from four months to three matches plus a fine of Rwf 100,000.

It all started March 7 in a match between Police FC and relegated team Amagaju FC from Nyamagabe district. Police lost 2-1 from the match in Kigali.

Disappointed and seemingly angry, coach Mpande allegedly attempted to harm the match referee.

The disciplinary process started May 14, when the law enforcers coach was slapped with a four-month stadium ban and Rwf 50,000 as per article 23 of the FERWAFA Disciplinary Code.

In the latest decision, the adjudicatory appeal committee chaired by its president Jules Mabano reduced the sanctions previously imposed.

“The Ferwafa Appeal Committee decided to reduce the duration of the ban of taking part in any football-related activity imposed on Mpande to the period already served (3 months) at the time of the notification of the present decision,” according to statement released by the committee.

The sanctions will see the Zambian miss the clubs next three assignments which includes the last match of the national football league against APR FC due on June 8 and two annual Peace Cup games.

In response, coach Mpande who still maintains that he did not cause any bodily harm to the match official, believes there was no case in this matter but he is happy to be back into the sport after the decision was reviewed.

“I first appealed in March when the sanctions were first imposed; they did not see any case. They squashed the appeal without any explanation and told me to re-appeal for the second time promising to give me feedback after two days. Since then the process took another full month, only to see the ban reduced…,” he said.