By Mwamba Peni II.

1. TESTED LEADERSHIP
Kalusha ‘s own evolution from a team star, one of Zambia’s first Professional players in Europe, Captain of the National Soccer Team, Coach of the National soccer, Vice President and President of the Football Association of Zambia tells a story that no Zambian interested in football, dead or alive has ever been in. From being selected to play in the Zambia school’s competition to the national soccer team and being catapulted into one of the world’s great in Soul, South Korea after the demolition of Italy culminating him into being voted as African Footballer of the year, the first and only one so far from Southern Africa.
This is a journey that has taken Kalusha to the darkest hour of almost total demolition, reinvention, aborted dreams, challenge and evolution and the the cusp of Victory. It’s a journey that had been 19 years in the making after the initial journey was curtailed by the tragedy on the shores of Gabon. Then the dream had remained him helped the game of soccer, in various capacities, to rise from the ashes to bringing Zambia’s first ever Africa Cup victory.
Suffice to say, this is an incredible journey of the last last 30 years of a nation united by the beautiful game of soccer with the common denominator of Chipolopolo, it’s passionate fan base, and Kalusha Bwalya as the embodiment of that denominator. No Zambian football administrator today has had as much experience and both physical and emotional involvement in Zambian soccer like Kalusha. Therefore, I expect him to understand and handle the affairs of the game far much better than his competitors.
2. LOCAL AND INTERNATIONAL EXPERIENCE
No Zambian living at the moment anywhere in the World has as much experience both locally and internationally like Kalusha Bwalya in the field of soccer. It is this experience that puts him ahead of his competitors in as far as understanding the challenges and opportunities for the beautiful game of soccer both locally and internationally is concerned.
3. EMOTIONAL INTELLIGENCE
Evidence has shown that 90 per cent of one’s performance effectiveness is due to emotional intelligence than IQ. Emotional intelligence is about recognising how negative attitudes and the emotions they trigger can prevent us from reaching our potential. Developing emotional intelligence leads to sustainabe behaviour changes that improves the way you manage yourself and the way you work with others. Kalusha’s emotional intelligence as exhibited in the various trials and tribulations he has gone through at the hands of those who hate him for his name and achievements has shown beyond any reasonable doubt his ability to manage his emotions rather than being managed by them. Therefore, even under stress or pressure, which is common in soccer, he is expected to keep his feet firmly planted on the ground and thereby make decisions that would benefit the beautiful game of soccer in Zambia.
4. NETWORKING
In today’s networked age, the cloud, soccer media, and mobile devices it’s not just enough to have a smart phone hoping it will bring you all connections that you need to give health to your job. You need a name that knows all players in the industry both locally all and internationally. You need a name that will speak for itself without further explanation and that name is Kalusha Bwalya. He is a global brand. He has picked up the phone and organised high profile friendly matches for our boys. He has picked up the phone and organised international coaches to come and help our local coaches. He has picked up the phone to partner with the corporate world to help improve the local league and thereby the National soccer teams.
5. LONG TERM PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT
Long term planning and development for soccer in this country has been at the centre of Kalusha’s vision for FAZ. Even someone with half a brain knows that you cannot attain overnight success in soccer. You need to plan for it and thoroughly execute your plan. This is a long-term process which requires commitment, dedication and perseverance and no Zambian involved in soccer today has demonstrated those attributes like Kalusha Bwalya.