Exactly a week ago on Monday, February 22, sports administrator Simataa Simataa appeared before the parliamentary committee on youth, sport and child affairs on Manda Hill.
Simataa was one of many over the last fortnight who made their submissions before the committee chaired by Sinda MP Levy Ngoma.
One line from Simataa’s close of his paper submission to the committee caught struck me.
“To blame the Gabon Disaster or ZCCM withdrawal of sponsorship or privatization on the current football misfortune is equivalent to blaming Sir Roy Welensky for the poor road infrastructure,” Simataa said.
Is Simataa right and maybe we have failed administratively to be wean-off the bosom of parastatals and  is Gabon a fair excuse for our football failures after 18 years?
Every resourceful orphan rebounds. Debate:
CAF CHAMPIONS LEAGUE PRELIMINARY ROUND RETURN LEG
27/02/2010
Nkoloma Stadium, Lusaka
Zanaco 4(Allen Mukuka 15″, Makundika Sakala 36″ 54″, Winston Kalengo 48″)- URA 0
INTERNATIONAL FRIENDLIES
28/01/2010
Nkoloma Stadium
Lusaka
Green Buffaloes 3 (Kennedy Chola ?”pen ?”, Reuben Tembo ?”),-Groupo Desportivo Electrica Cablobassa (Moz) 2*
*Scorers unavailable
HT 0-2.
Dar-es-Salaam
28/02/2010
Azim 2- Zesco United 3(Clive Hachilensa, Yonah Mwango, Maybin Mwaba)
27/02/2010
Simba 4(Mike Barasa 37r 60″ pen 63″, Nico Nyagawa 43″)- Zesco United 1(Enock Sakala 45″)
23/02/2010
Young Africans 1- Zesco United 1(Billy Mwanza)
Was the Gabon disaster 18 years ago??
Anyway,i think that lack of infrastructure for training including lack of a working document on having sports academies in all sporting activities is what has led to poor performance in all sports areas,
Our athletes always looked malnourished when televised participating in international events.
The problem with Zambia, is the narrow mindedness of those in the chair, It is time Zambia followed the rest of the world in recognizing the value of sport in a child’s life a part of their development, Sport should not be viewed as a luxury, but as a partner to development. Look at small islands that are producing world champions like Trinidad and Tobago, St Keats etc, we require to revamp the thinking, and stop this negative approach of blaming yesterday for not having tomorrow, it is today that counts, come on Zambia we must be the only country still leaving in the dark ages or is it just greedy of those in power
Simata is right. There is something wrong with foot ball administration. Equally the Govnt have done little to improve the sports infrastructure. Let the investor’s not just get our copper but they should be mandated to financially support sports.
i was the best high jumper in 1998 in the province(grade 12). To my disappointment, when i went to CBU, there was no such facility to exhibit my potentially good and promising career. Even without matresses, my best was 1.86m. I believe i wud have improved and probably represnt the country. But alas now i ve a pot belly big enough to hide a chipushi