NDOLA COACHES' BODY, DEC TO CONDUCT ANTI-DRUGS WORKSHOP

NDOLA Football Coaches Association (NFCA) have hired experts from the Drug
Enforcement Commission (DEC) to conduct a workshop aimed at highlighting
the dangers of drugs in sport.

With a number of Zambian footballers arrested by DEC for possessing and
trafficking in marijuana, NFCA said they were worried by the consumption of
performance-enhancing psycho-tropic substances by Zambian sportsmen.

"As Ndola coaches we are worried by reports that Zambian players use drugs
to enhance their performance. In conjunction with the Drug Enforcement
Commission, we wish to invite club officials and coaches to a seminar to be
held on December 13, 2003 at the Savoy Hotel in Ndola," NFCA treasurer Tom
Kunda said yesterday.

He said interested clubs would be required to pay K100,000 which would
cover three officials and two coaches.

Although the organisers were Ndola coaches, Kunda said participation was
open to clubs outside the district.

FAZ Premier Division Power Dynamos and Nkana had been invited while all
football entities in Ndola and other Copperbelt towns had shown interest in
sending their officials and coaches.

Kunda has meanwhile, announced that a drugs awareness tournament has also
been lined-up for December 20 and would be hosted by Division Two North
Kalewa Barracks.

He said after this Saturday's workshop for club officials and coaches, it
was decided to extend the programme to players.

"The only way we can do that is through a tournament and that has been set
for December 20 at Kalewa Barracks.

"We wish, therefore, to invite management teams to participate in the
tournament which is again going to be held in conjunction with DEC," Kunda
said, adding that there would be a K300,000 participation fee for the
management teams.