FORMER Football Association of Zambia president Simataa Simataa says he has no doubt banned soccer icon Kalusha Bwalya will bounce back stronger and wiser.

Simataa, who in the past was critical of the Bwalya-led FAZ executive, has advised the African soccer legend not to appeal a recent two-year ban slapped on him by FIFA because he would not get any justice under the current FIFA administration.

He said Bwalya’s predicament was not one to celebrate but rather a reminder on good corporate governance practices.

Simataa maintained that Bwalya’s ban was not necessitated by his letter of 2015 but by FAZ’s insistence or subsequent letters long after his initial letter to FIFA.

“Following the two-year global ban that has been meted out on Mr Kalusha Bwalya by football’s mother body, FIFA, a lot has been said. Some have linked me to the same. This is particularly because in 2015, I wrote a letter to FIFA asking the federation to investigate Mr Bwalya for having received US$80,000 from Mr Mohamed bin Hammam on behalf of the Football Association of Zambia (FAZ). I have to say firstly with hindsight that I have no regrets for having written such a letter because the situation at the time demanded so,” Simataa said.
“Secondly, because of the nature of the revelations and allegations against Kalusha in the Bin Hammam case and Kalu’s status in African and Zambian football, there was, expectedly, a mixed reaction to my appeal to FIFA in local circles. I was abused by many and praised by others, including some involved now at Football House. For those that care to remember, soon after writing to FIFA, my letter fell aside in the corridors of the federation because the then FIFA president Mr Sepp Blatter later met with different African FA presidents in South Africa who included the 30 suspected to be recipients of money from Mr Bin Hammam. After the meeting, FIFA no longer investigated them. FIFA rather became interested in the bigger fish.”

Simataa said additionally, FIFA never replied or indicated any further direction after his letter.

“As far as I am concerned, the case closed. This fact is further confirmed by FIFA, who in their statement announcing Mr Bwalya’s ban last Friday, stated: ‘The investigation against Mr Bwalya was opened on 28 February 2017, and focused principally on benefits that Mr Bwalya had received from Mr Bin Hammam’,” Simataa explained.

He further said he understood and shared Bwalya’s present feelings as a human being and family man as he was not only an icon of Zambian football but that his contribution to the sport would never be erased.

The veteran administrator also urged Bwalya not to appeal against the ban as he was viewed as a sympathiser of the Blatter administration.

“Ideally, the best advocates for Mr Bwalya’s justice are unfortunately the perpetrators of the current situation. This pro-Gianni Infantinio FIFA-led executive would have been the best people to seek justice on Mr Bwalya’s behalf. I have no doubt Mr Bwalya can bounce back after serving his ban; stronger and wiser.”

Last week, FIFA’s adjudicatory chamber of the independent Ethics Committee banned Bwalya for two years from all football-related activities at both national and international level, and fined him 100,000 Swiss Francs, for receiving a total of US$80,000 from Bin Hammam.
Bwalya has since stated that he will appeal the ban.