From: Charles Banda

Football Association of Zambia (Faz) president Kalusha Bwalya has sent a message wishing Japan the best in the 2014 Fifa World Cup hosted by Brazil.

In a letter of gratitude addressed to Japan Football Association president dated June 19 Kalusha especially thanked Japan for hosting Zambia in an international friendly match played on June 6 at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida.

The contents of the letter are reproduced in full here below:

“On behalf of the Football Association of Zambia Executive and indeed on own behalf, we wish to thank you and the Japan Football Association Executive for accepting to host the Zambia National Team in a friendly international match played in Tampa, Florida on 6th June 2014.

“It is my sincere hope that the friendly match will go a long way in assisting the Japan National Team in its quest towards the World Cup Glory in Brazil.

“Through this mutual cooperation it is our hope and desire that our two Associations will collaborate and strengthen relations through such bilateral arrangements.

“Once again we look forward to meeting in the near future,” the letter ends.

Zambia lost the match 4 -3 having taken a 2-0 lead within the opening half hour but allowed Japan to pull a goal back before half time with a penalty converted by Keisuke Honda following a handball inside the area by Emmanuel Mbola.

Two quick-fire goals in the 73rd and 75th minutes by Shinji Kagawa and Honda respectively meant that Japan took the lead for the first time in the match. Zambia equalised through substitute Lubambo Musonda in the 88th minute only for Yoshida Okubo to net Japan’s winner two minutes later.

The match was the first ever played between the two teams.