By Eugene Makai
The long reign of Kalusha Bwalya as Football Association of Zambia (FAZ) President was put to bed in the early hours of Sunday morning at Kitwe’s Moba Hotel and Convention Centre by Andrew Kamanga where an elective Annual General Meeting (AGM) was held beginning on Saturday 19th March 2016.
Kamanga an Energy expert and Lusaka businessman has been a standard bearer of the critics of the style of management at Football House and has had a longtime rivalry with now ousted President Kalusha Bwalya. Kamanga polled 163 to Bwalya’s 156 in a tightly contested race, while Henschel Chitembeya polled only 1 vote.
The indications that change was in the works was evident when late on Saturday evening Richard Kazala was elected Vice-President with a margin of 9 votes against his closest contender Pivoty Simwanza. Kazala polled 117 to Simwanza’s 108. Other Vice-Presidential aspirants polled as follows:
Mofya Chisala – 58 votes, Cephas Kampamba Katongo – 28 votes and Boniface Mwamelo polled 8 votes.
Rixie Mweemba was elected unopposed for the position of Treasurer.
Kamanga and his supporters mounted a campaign aimed at ending what they termed ‘arrogance of incumbency’.
They rallied their supporters around the alleged mismanagement of football under Kalusha’s tenure including that of his propriety and integrity after allegations of corruption, unaccountability, declining standards of the game in the country, favouritism, divisive politics and patronage at Football House.
Some of the accusations leveled against Kalusha Bwalya are his role in receiving US$80, 000 for FAZ from Qatari billionaire and former FIFA Presidential aspirant Mohammed Bin Hammam in his personal account which does not reflect in FAZ books of accounts.
They also questioned his failure to disclose how much Nike paid Zambia for winning Africa Cup in 2012 and what led to the termination of the contract and sponsorship, as well as to disclose match appearance fees paid to Zambia for high profile matches such as those against Brazil and Japan.
The Kamanga Camp pointed out the poor state of management of funds at Football house resulting in poor relationship with referees and local coaches, failure to give local coaches contracts such as Honour Janza and George Lwandamina, failure to remit statutory payments from deductions from employee’s salaries, the poor attitude towards the Zambia Women’s National Team (Shepolopolo), and, the unilateral decision to fire Dario Bonetti which caused the Government of Zambia to lose tax payers money to save Zambian football from a FIFA ban amongst others.
Kamanga is now in the saddle and it remains to be seen what his priorities are and how he will reorganize the running of the foremost sport in the country.
Commentators and pundits are convinced that Kamanga has his heart in the right place though they caution that he must not fall into the trap of believing he knows it all and exclude all key players from consultation and decision making.
EXPECTATIONS
• The obvious first step is to reassure all the affiliates and clubs.
• The ending of a culture of opaque financial management
• An independent audit of the Associations finances including an investigation into the resignation of Treasurer Kelvin Mutafu.
• An investigation into the Nike deal and publishing of all financial dealings including reasons why Nike left.
• The restructuring of the league and rebuilding confidence in the players by ending a culture of patronage.
• Fund and promote the women’s game.
• Strict adherence to constitutionalism and separation from external political influences.
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Those of us who have been at FAZ AGM will tell you that there was something which was happening at that meeting which you deliberately shielding. It was too long a night for voting and counting.
knowing FAZ
1 JERABO were there to intimidate councillors.
2 electoral college was adulterated
3 counting off ballots was in camera.
4 and voting was by show of hands. Or by show of PF hand TOOLS.
Kamanga will be the worst FAZ president like Lungu mark my words RB is behind Kamanga and he’s the one and his son who will be running football house.
Kalu refused to be controlled by RB and his children and that is the only crime he committed.
Councillors will now survive on bribes. Wait and see
Well it was expected after what I would call a good soccer career stint for Kalusha Bwalya. Having said that, let me congratulate Andrew Kamanga for emerging victorious. Let me also congratulate Kalusha Bwalya for a gentlemanly hand over of the FAZ reins to Andrew.
What Kamanga needs to do now is promote local soccer and tap the abundant talent that mother Zambia has. Andrew must also try to look for great teams in Europe where the local lads can further their soccer careers. South Africa is ok but we need to send these guys to places where soccer is competitive. Once in a while Andrew should seek advice from Kalusha for the betterment of the game.
Once again Congratulations to both of you gallant men and let games begin. We need to be the top soccer nation team in Africa. Good luck.
A dawn of a new era. 2016 Is also the year when zambians will have the opportunity to change the government and elect the capable upnd
It Is Abnomal To Tel Somebody Who Has Just Married That U Wil Be A Bad Father,lets Encourage Kamanga
NEZ AND POLITICS,U ARE A REAL TONGA BULL.
Congratulation ba Andrew. We need a facelift in Zambian football. God be your guide. nothing will come easily. Sichilima
Very soon name calling will start for Kamanga though being congratulated now.
Some people are dull Kalusha was a falure he contributed ulya chikala nothing to Zambian football the chap was corrupt no muntu nga atemwa ukutomba basungu noku temwa sana money just know that there can never be a good out come especially institution like FAZ. Kalusha tasambillila lifontini I wonder if he posses a G12 Certificate. Its ZCCM those days pick him no ku mutwala pa library otherwise alepela fye ama bulbs ya mung’anda nga yapwa mwatwala to excahange. He does not posses any profession academic qualification. Look at Andrew Kamanga learned man alisambilila even Simatta Banker you can’t compare them to Kalu
wisdom is better than knowledge,lifontini but alikwanisha ukusenda Africa cup,we will see those u ar calling the educated if they will even manage even a small COSAFA
Erick Mwanza should also go,his position was just created by Kalu.
Kabwe Warriors Was Destroyed By Kamanga & His Crick Now The Same Crick Has Taken Over Faz, Wait & See.
Bafikala ninshi mutinina isukulu that is why even Grade 12 Certificate has become an issue. The problem is you do not want people who are learned to make decisions. Kalusha tasambilila he wqas not even suppose to preside on FAZ as its President NO!!!
Add your comment prove the change that you have been crying for,ba fikala mwaumfwa!
This is what will soon happen to Edgar chanwa lungu and his pf thugs zambians on 11th august will frush them out and bring in an educated team.HH forward bane backwards never
sepp blatter is gone so are his stooges.