Zambia risks losing right to host this year's COSAFA Castle Cup semifinals if Lusaka's Independence Stadium is not declared as the soccer tournament's venue, warned a COSAFA senior official on Monday.

The Post Monday quoted the COSAFA secretary general Ashford Mamelodi as saying in a telephone interview from Botswana that theorganizers had the right to strip Zambia of the venue when Lusaka play their home match against the Tsawanas.

"If they don't deliver Independence Stadium, we reserve the right to change the venue to another country," he said.

Mamelodi deemed that there is no any other venue suitable for the match apart from the Independence Stadium whose activities have only been restricted to local league games.

"We are not going to the Copperbelt (500 km from Lusaka) because of logistical problems and any other venue, apart from Independence stadium in Lusaka, is too small," he said.

Mamelodi said the Football Association of Zambia (FAZ) has been informed of the risks.

FAZ has no choice but to ensure that measures are put in place for the 42-year-old sports area to host the semi-final.

At the height of Independence Stadium safety debate last year FAZ was forced to use Woodlands Stadium in Lusaka for the Group C two-day mini-tournament, a decision tat was received with mixed feelings.

FAZ general secretary John Musonda said earlier that It will consider the use of Independence Stadium restricting the seating area to open wing alone.

"What was condemned is not the whole stadium, but a certain part," he said.

Source: Xinhua