Sports Minister Fackson Shamenda and FAZ President Kalusha Bwalya yesterday afternoon re-asserted their ‘ resolve’ to take Zambian football to a high level.
The duo also resolved to work together to steer the Zambian football ship forward as they hosted a victory luncheon for the triumphant Zambia U20.
The luncheon was held at the Lusaka hotel soon after the Zambia team arrived from Botswana where the young Chipolopolo defeated Angola 2-1 in Saturday’s final to win a third straight regional youth championship.
The Sports Minister, according to a local blogger, praised Kalusha for his strong stance on football and upholding its governance protocols.
He poured cold water on recent media reports that have portrayed them as being apart. He advised the Zambian football fraternity not to read too much into them because they were mere exchanges between two politicians sizing each other-up.
“I and Kalusha are politicians. We were just sizing each other up and now I know that this young man stands on firm ground. He can be a critical young man at times but he’s a leader who knows what is good and bad and that’s what I like because I hate people who will smile at me even when am wrong.
“ We are very good friends both on a personal note and professionally. We are way above what you read recently in the press. Kalusha will say it when it’s right or wrong but obviously, we will not go about with the press.
“ The good leadership of our football has been demonstrated by the team’s third straight win at the Cosafa and now we will work within the tripartite arrangement of the ministry, the sports council and FAZ and never interfere in FAZ operations. We can only intervene if there is a crisis but we are going forward to achieve a lot for our country.”
The minister and FAZ president welcomed each other’s frank talk and emphasized that while what was published in the media may have painted a bad and negative picture of their relationship, they were good colleagues who enjoyed their work and got along very well in engagements outside the game.
The minister said that the divergent exchange of views had in fact brought them even closer. He said that would further strengthen their interaction and help realize the PF government’s vision for sports development. Kalusha assured the minister of continued cooperation, partnership and hard work.
Said Kalusha: “Honourable minister, we are looking forward to a time when government – which is our main partner with the Chipolopolo – can spread support to the juniors and youths who are our future.”
It was this statement that brought a new revelation to the minister.
Said Shamenda; “I didn’t know that the under 20 were sponsored only by FAZ. For the team to win three straight titles without government support means that FAZ can do more with government support.
The PF government is proud of this achievement and I would like to give you my President (Sata) and government assurance that we shall support you so that we can win more titles and encourage the young boys to go to the Chipolopolo an score more goals so that we can win the Africa Cup.
ZANIS
Yes and that people should be.Kalusha is a very honest man and love him for that!!
This is good news and I like reading good news on LT. The two have shown maturity and calibre by working out their differences for the sake of Zambian soccer.
These are jokers
yaba!
I see the picture, point taken LT.
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Great Kalu my a. s.s!
I await your arrival my dear Kalu.
hey shamenda, do not dare let simataa hear you say these things!
big up kalu who are the man
Why not ask “Great Kalu” his target for the Africa Cup? Semi or Quarter Finals…..waste of time with these FAZ people!!
Ofcourse we all knew that for PF govt standards that was too good to be true. Some of us never for a moment believed the Minister whatever he said in the press, because we knew that it was just a matter of time before the poor quality standards of PF would show themselves. And bang! evden a week hasn’t passed. Meanwhile, Zambia keeps slipping on the world FIFA rankings. The last time I checked we were number 79 behind Haiti, a country so ravaged by the earthquake and cholera that they don’t remember the last time they played football. Zambia is not a country to bring your children in – the standards are too low, people generally low IQ and the environment very childish and stale.
Kalu, you see why many of us migrated? We ran away away from PhDs (Pull Him Down). That is part of our culture. There are so many retrograde mindsets out there. I hope you carry your plate of food when going to the restroom during public events…Don’t trust anybody.
#12 hahaha thats very fun, indeed we ran away from such retards. I mean away from them.
“That which has horns can not be wrapped”!!! It will not be long before Kalu’s ineptitude in running FAZ rears its ugly head yet again, and this kiss and make up will be history. The circus will continue.
Kalu is kalu ask Rupia and Chipungu with Chifumo bandas, Chimata amata and kamanaga they will tell u how they failed.
Well done Mr Minister don’t be misled by Mulonga. He is just a good for nothing chap. This is how it should be.
Now that’s what all Zambian footballers want, Please Hon. dont listen to Teddy Mukongole is not Zambian why should our main game suffer because of Teddy Mukongole’s mischievous? Thank you Ho. Thanks King Kalu
Wonderful people kalu & shamenda keep it up guys,let us see the chipolopolo go higher.
KALU,-Mulonga misled me alot but relax soon hes going i briefed Shamenda however,we are all proud of you and your achievment work more hard but please Dont kubaambila ba simata kuti ba mata.VIVA KALU ONE MORE 4 YEARS NEVER DOUBT.No competition na div 1 clud chaiman (warriors) fake note kamanga
Teddy Mulonga iz a gentleman in and out. Thoze of you pouring scorn on him are fishing on very dry land. It iz, however, alwayz nice to see percieved differing partiez find common ground and move on.
Please Bwana Minister do not listen to TED MULONGA. He is a plotical prostitute and a big liar. Muzungu wabulya kadyo…………kumusebenzela nee…………!! Where is Simaata Simaata mwebantu?? He is very silent this days, why?? Especially after his ditching of PF for MMD. He is silent buying time. Shame Simaata…………………..!!! Viva Great Kalu…!!!
I think some people enjoy when there is chaos in Zambian football.Kalu is interested in Zambian football.#12 you are not in touch of Zambian football.Just because you are in the UK does not make you superior over those of us in Africa.If you don’t have any thing good to say just shut up.Whether Zambia slips to 150 position on FIFA ranks,it does not matter except maybe for players wanting to play in the slave master,s league.No country is paid to be no. 1 on the FIFA rankings.So Hon. Shamenda and great Kalu your reconciliation is a positive move towards football development in Zambia.
good :d
Shamenda shouldn’t have behaved like a kaponya at first. He shouldn’t intimidate people or specifically Kalu just because he is a minister today. A lot have been ministers before him and they are commoners today (William Harrington,George Chulumanda etc) and it won’t be different for him. I am not sure why zambians want to start thinking when they are fired but when they are in power they forget where they came from.
just because we got the cup…. shame nda wants to be part of otherwise he was going to tow his usual line.
For once bloggers are positive…its refreshing…thumbs up.I like the recon between the two..but Miles Sampa should do more to have FAZ work well with govt,if he becomes a Judas that will be sad..