Croatian media is reporting that Chipolopolo Zambia coach Aljosa Asanovic has quit his post.
Asanovic has been involved in a back-and-fourth spat with his employers the Football Association of Zambia (FAZ) since the start of this week.
FAZ said Asanovic has gone AWOL after over a month away in Croatia and failed to report back for work to prepare Chipolopolo for this weekend’s friendly doubleheader against Mali away in Bamako.
Chipolopolo has two friendlies against hosts Mali on September 23 and on September 26 and local assistant coach Moses Sichone is in interim charge of the engagement.
Croatian sports portal Sportske claims Asanovic will not be returning to Zambia.
THE CLAIM…
“Former Croatian national team member Aljosa Asanovic (56) and his assistants have left the bench of the Zambia national team because of a debt they are owed by the Zambian Federation,” Sportske stated.
But high-ranking FAZ officials who declined to be on record said they are not aware of the development.
Asanovic through his lawyer Davor Radic is claiming that FAZ owes him US$31,345.61.
However, FAZ President Andrew Kamanga said they don’t owe Asanovic anything but that he has been absent since Chipolopolo were eliminated from the 2023 CHAN qualifiers by Mozambique on July 30.
Kamanga went on to say that FAZ would not pay Asanovic for no work rendered to his employers during the lengthy period he has been away in Croatia.
Asanovic has been in charge of Chipolopolo since mid-January 2022.
He has clocked 10 games, winning five, drawing two and losing three.
