By Mabvuto Phiri
I have always feared that the atmosphere at the Football Association of Zambia (FAZ) is toxic and the change of power which saw Andrew Kamanga rise to the helm as Organization President recently has begun to confirm my fears.
Initially, the unabridged episode commenced immediately Kalusha Bwalya lost the seat because he has officially not handed over necessary documentation to his successor for continuity purposes, a warning that some people are yearning for ungovernable Football House under the able administration of cool and calm Lusaka-based business guru Kamanga. His humble request for an appropriate handover has fallen on deaf eyes, as some cobwebs from the previous administration have been plotting a “coup d’état coup “to undermine a legitimate elected leader, who has set his eyes on the development of the game.
The developments that have engulfed Football House since Kamanga took over football house is truly an act of desperation and has no space in a democratic dispensation like ours.
From the little I have gathered, most of the office bearers in the new executive and those managing football house currently are sympathizers and were mere cadres of the losing candidate and they will try by all means to frustrate the efforts of Kamanga in bringing sanity to Zambian football.
From the on-set, I must mention that Kamanga, as leader of the football association has demonstrated rare courage by maintaining some office bearers that verbally assaulted him with impunity in the run-up to the polls. Don’t worry we know them although we shall not mention their names but we forgive but we will never forget their names?
However, let me address the issues of President Kamanga having quietly suggested “Simataa Simataa” to take up the position of Secretary General at Football House, I thought what Kamanga has done is backed by the present FAZ constitution, as outlined in article 28(1) of the Association’s statues, which allows him to consider anybody for that office, who should subsequently, be ratified by the executive committee members.
Nonetheless, immediately President Kamanga made the proposal, the entire committee was quick to excitedly issue an unripe statement against the very aspirations that espoused by the Association. They have betrayed their leader in and that their decision cannot be justified nor entertained in a society governed by laws.This is primitive.
The idea that the executive of our football Association has the power to defile the shared character of the association through the presidency is an affront on the very foundations of their existence. Secondly, the ban on “Simataa Simataa ”was way lifted in March, 2014 if my memory serves me right and that he is free to serve in any portfolio in the football fraternity and to discard him in such a manner is not only surprising but shocking from the men we have entrusted to manage football administration.
I am worried to say the least because the decision to issue such a statement is ill-timed and creates a sense of deep doubt and uncertainty on the capacity of the executive to deliver on the principle of collective responsibility.
The much-anticipated Football Association of Zambia elective general meeting is now surely behind us and Kamanga apparently achieved the impossible in a race that verbally turned nasty and ugly at times.
It was an exhaustive period, which some of us lost friends for the many submissions on the need for the Kalu executive should quickly have addressed but for now all this is history since the advice had fallen on deaf thickened ears by some of the characters serving in the executive under Kamanga.
One thing that l highlighted in most of my pre-conference discourse was the need for Kalu and those around him to address the corruption tag that had engulfed the positive contribution the soccer hero had made to our local football. Undoubtedly, there was failure to address serious maladministration at Football House ranging from accountability and corporate governance a claim that has received no attention or response from the team managing our treasured asset apart from copper previously.
Arguably, good governance in football is a key leadership blueprint presumably elusive to the previous administration. Kalusha had been promising continuity of purpose on the backdrop of the successful outing of the Chipolopolo boys in Gabon in 2012 and successful winning of the continental show piece after many years without much success despite the abundant talent the country has produced.
The Kalusha administration only wanted to highlight the positive contributions and achievements yet failed to acknowledge and admit failure especially those that followed after the lifting of the AFCON.
Undeniably, the ‘eyes’ on the ball philosophy modelled by the 1988 African footballer of the year lacked clarity and robust commitment to principles of good governance, transparency and accountability.
Ironically, Kamanga should be cautious of not throwing the baby and the bathwater but save the baby and partly throw the unneeded bathwater because the current success and attractiveness at football house is a result of the ‘Great Kalu’ administration such, as a MTN deal currently sponsoring the premier league among others although l doubt that he will succeed with the current executive members.
I am still hopeful that Kalu will provide insights to the many unanswered queries that have engulfed football house since time immemorial in his handover notes to Kamanga.
What happened to the Nike deal, replica jersey sales, international matches ticket sales and failure to employ a full team national team coach despite having made a pledge to do so during the last assembly?
Whilst the truth about administration of the game under Kalu is being sought, Kamanga has no time thus need to get down to work and deliver to the resulted hungry Zambian soccer fans.
To do this Kamanga needs to assemble a team that will carry his vision and therefore his selection of Simataa Simataa as the chief executive Officer at Football house is but one step towards realization of that goal. It is therefore extremely surprising that his lieutenants have decided to reject Simataa, the question that will beg for answer is why have they done so? Simataa Simataa in my view could be carrying a weapon that may just go to expose some of the people still occupying offices at the country’s football governing house.
I am optimistic that Kamanga will succeed and Zambia will benefit.
‪#‎Despiser2016‬