Zambia’s President Rupiah Banda has urged the Youth, Sport and Child Development minister Kenneth Chipungu to facilitate payment of the US $ 6,000 ( K 20, 443, 500 million as ) winning bonus to the National Soccer team despite losing 5-4 on post match penalties to Nigeria during the on going 2010 AFCON Cup tournament in Angola.
President Banda urged Mr Chipungu to pay the amount promised to the players if they had won the quarterfinal game against Nigeria.
Mr. Banda said despite the team having lost the game on post-match penalties, the team played very well in the 120 minutes game which included the extra time and therefore deserves the bonus.
The ministry assured the national soccer team players to be paid US $ 6000 each if they win the quarter finals against Nigeria. The West African footballing giants however ended up as winners against Zambia 5-4 on post match penalties.
And Mr. Banda has urged the country’s soccer fans to turn up in large numbers tomorrow to welcome the National Soccer Team alias Chipopopolo boys from the 2010 Africa Confederation Cup (AFCON) Angola at the Lusaka International Airport.
The President has since dispatched a plane to pick the national team from the mineral rich Southern African country has urged local soccer fans to dress themselves in national colours to welcome the national team tomorrow.
This is contained in a statement issued to ZANIS in Lusaka today by the Special Assistant to the President for Press and Public Relations, Dickson Jere.
Mr. Banda said the national team made Zambia proud by their excellent performance in the quarterfinal game against Nigeria which they lost 5-4 on post match penalties.
He noted that the last time Zambia reached the quarterfinal was 14 years ago.
The President has also disclosed that he will host the team for a luncheon at State House on Thursday together with various companies that contributed to the Presidential Fund raising Initiative for the team.
President Banda, who has taken a leading role in raising funds for the team, said he was certain that Zambia will be a team to reckon with in the future because it has many young talented players.
Zambia is one of the countries that qualified in the quarter finals at the ongoing Orange Africa Cup of Nations in Angola but was booted out of the competition when they lost to Nigeria by 5-4 on post match penalties.
ZANIS
YES OUR THE BOYS DID THE BEST
Maybe if we lost in the finals .
Well done boys and yes please pay our boys those bonuses cos that was as good as winning. Our team is young and i for one believe there is more to come from them. On the same topic please get rid of that coach cos the boys deserve a coach who has their best interests first not personal ones.
Rewarding failure only pa Zed they did well but there is a reason its called a winning bonus. They have already been invited to a dinner something at state house, what more isnt that motivation enough
viva vipolopolo
Sembe sima sebenza
They certainly deserve it. Zambia is one of the three countries to have emerged as a good attacking team including Ghana and Egypt. Zambia played fantastic football throughout till we lost on penalties to Nigeria. If you could recall, where is Ivory Coast, Cameroun and the host Angola? And these things happen in football…penalties is not actual losing but an unfortunate circumstance. What FAZ needs to work on now is to try and keep the same group of players, of course with the addition of others and keep the coach if he still wants to stay ( I think he’s proved to be good thus far) and believe me, Zambia will go back to its winning ways. FYI Victor Enyeama conceded that our team outplayed them and that the team will soon become the team to beat. In short, we got players to do it…
Infact this should be an ordinary allowence to these boys bearing in mind that they left the country and their families several weeks ago into camp. As a former FAZ chief, state house facillitation of Chipolopolo’s improvement is noticeable. However, Bwezy, please no interference in Herve’s fate. He’s got to show more commitment or he goes. The man can’t just say he needs to manage a more decent and stronger side when the boys are busy preparing for Nigeria! You don’t market yourself by demeaning other! I can smell Patric Phiri.
Good Evening
It was really painful to watch the way our boys were knocked out, especially for the fans at home. We had 5 or 6 chances to score and almost won the game but we fumbled. Still more, they boys really outplayed Nigeria and they deserve the honour, both physically and materially. So RB has made a good decision on this.
They deserve the bonus and more. Tule kachelo mukuba pokelela. Iye Chipolo polo
Think they played well and deserve the cash. The coach should go as I think it is highly unprofessional to be talking about coaching a better team in the middle of an important tournament.
Its a blessing to the national sporting spirit that RB is soccer fun No1. As a country we take Great pride in what our Chipolopolo boys had put against Nigerians in Lubango stadium.They had given the Eagles a performance they little expected from the reconstituted Copper bullets.We are no easy contenders but a team that mean winning business.No doubt our boys have revived the once crashed National soccer spirit.This outstanding performance has delivered healing, faith and winning soccer capital again. As a country we are back in the game against all odds.The souls of our fallen heroes will never be in vein.From their ashes we have picked a winning spirit.
We implore all Zambians to give our boys a heroes reception when they step down on the Zambian soil.
Bravo boys!
Why should we organise a function using my tax for loosers ? Who is rejoycing ? RB. You loose; you have lost, it is straigth forward. No body is happy to accept defeat; I for one can not. Please; organise that function for looser at RB private home and not at State house. Lets call a spade a spade. We lost, it is all known. You Jere; dont think we are happy to have lost. ( Twalishalila sana kula sumina defeat ).
I will never accept defeat in my life.
Our boys deserve a bonus because of a splendid performance put up against Nigerians.They kept the Eagles distraught through out the last half.They were just magic on the ground.
Iyo lelo ba Senior Citizen mwalanda bwino. Please keep up with this spirit. I think you would be good at soccer commentary than politics. This is not an attack but a praise for a well written and unbiased commentary.
Well done RB!!! On this one we speak the same language. The boys deserve the cash.
Why does the president have to be involved in every little thing? You get a feeling that this government is run like a mafia. Was this amount budgeted for? If so it should be up to the ministry to make that decision not the entire head of state who should be focusing on solving issues of mega proportion like eradicating poverty, improving education, health, shelter, infrastructure etc. But this man is so carried away with spending. What a shame.
FOR ONCE RUPIAH SEEMS TO HAVE SPOKEN SOME SENSE
Its a good idea but retirees need their benefits first !
What is there to celebrate in a thrird world country with a second rate footbal team and first class supporters!
Build good stadia first, and pump money in youth soccer development. Our boys even looked under-nourished. Umusebanya weka weka!
Kalusha Bwalya was even happier that the team!
Did you see him jumping up and down trying to imitate Christopher Katongo’s summersaults!
He was thinking of kangachepe (commssion) from the boys!
When are we as a country going to be serious? This is a waste of tax payers’ money. It amazes me how an impoverished country can afford to waste money like this. The best thing that can come out tournaments like CAN is for more of our players to be signed up by professional overseas sides – not just squeezing money out of poor Zambians taxpayers. Knowing Banda, there is probably a loophole for his sons, who happen to be Kalusha’s friends, to benefit from this.
Yes pay the boys because they deserve it! Mbola mufana, Man City will be looking out for you. Now sort out the situation with the stadiums so that the fans could also be rewarded!!
For the first time everand at long last VETERAN and i have something common. Good job RB give them boys the allowances.
Bwezani, were’nt u ashamed when you saw the stadium & the several stadia they had in different towns in Angola??? So nice for the people we held as refugies right here quite recently from a total war situation. Now please, think about what you can do for this country where we’ll place your legacy. We can be serious if we want to. Rewards for a job well done in the servcice of the nation are part of the necessary motivation of the entire population to strive for greater hights. So!
For once alaabee has made a good decision…thssnk you Mr. President….this is what I said on the thrread of the much.
But this should not be the end, build more stadia, improve sporting facilities in SCHOOLS and revive school football. What happened to terms like ‘school boy International’? the old soccer fans remember this. This was when national team players would be poached from Secondary schools…..If Mbola is really 16 and still in school…now thats what am talking about!
Well done boys. I think the government should not give the boys cash because we are a cash rich but asset poor nation. Let them invest, perhaps sell them shares in ZAMTEL or other entity. Cash is a waste. Or perhaps by them an interest in the new stadium we are building so they and their children will have an income for life.
As for the coach, he should be allowed to go and look for a ‘better team’ his friends build better teams him he is looking for a better team….what a loser! here are the reasons that he should be allowed to go.
1. Before the cameroon game, he was in the media saying he was scared of the wounded Lions – cameroon. negative from a coach…no wounder players were timid.
2. Before Nigeria game, he was again in the media saying he was looking for a better team – so the zambian team that was to face Nigeria was not better – Negative and deaming.
3. After the penalties loss to Nigeria, he just stormed a way and left the players to console themselves. Did anyone see how the dejected players grouped themselves after the penalties and parayed on the pitch after the coach had already left?
As for the coach, he should be allowed to go and look for a ‘better team’ his friends build better teams him he is looking for a better team….what a loser! here are the reasons why I think he should be allowed to go.
1. Before the cameroon game, he was in the media saying he was scared of the wounded Lions – cameroon. negative from a coach…no wounder players were timid.
2. Before Nigeria game, he was again in the media saying he was looking for a better team – so the zambian team that was to face Nigeria was not better – Negative and deaming.
3. After the penalties loss to Nigeria, he just stormed away and left the players to console themselves. Did anyone see how the dejected players grouped themselves after the penalties and prayed on the pitch after the coach had already left?
US $ 6,000 ( K 20, 443, 500 million). The amount in Kwacha is less. It should be K27,840,000. Who will pocket the rest? I am sure the answer is known-The host….
Well done boys, you deserve it!
This in entertaining laziness i for one find the presidents decision a bit weird coz i dont believe in “because they played well” but scores.Football is all about scores this is almost like going for a pop idol concert where a performing musician cant sing better than his dancing.
Tiye timwe tisangalale
So even losing has its rewards! good to know
The match was just tough and let us encourage the team to keep on fighting. Losing from penalties means a lot to Zambians! We were all impressed with the match and I am happy that the listening government has made a gesture to encourage our National Team.
Pay for what? Iam very disappointed that RB is using soccer for campaining.
Well done RB, pls give the boys the bonus they played very well……
Next time we will be number one if this team is maintained
If only this RB had listened to Obama’s speech, he wouldnt have been rewarding failure. It only happens pa Zed. All the same well done boys
Why do we like to settle for second best in this country? Why pay winning allowances to losers? Whats the difference in paying a civil servant his/her full salary when they have not worked a whole month, with this kind of situation? Our boxers are being knocked out left right and center, but they are never rewarded. We are where we are as a nation because of such attitudes; Rewarding failure. They played well, but the fact is, they lost!! There is no other word for that. So what allowances are you paying them? Koma zoona !!:-w
1st time we’ve agreed na Shrek~o). Am gonna speak with him to thank him personally:)]
RB you are an encouraging parent. HR well done!
The boys deserve the allowances for a job well done. The amount in Kwacha is actually K27.5 million. LT has chosen indiacte a false figure may be to disguise RB’s usually loose directives.
Pay them what is due,even Big Brother Africa pays who which ever house mate is evicted ask Paloma.>:d<
Winning bonus or Losing bonus
Maybe even at unza they shall start giving grades depending on how hard you studied and not whether you passed or failed.
We would have beaten Nigeria if our movie star coach motivated his boys more and made the ryt subs.How do you say anything after the quarter finals is a bonus when the aim was to lift the Cup? Rewarding failure should not be accepted.They wud have given them ma US$3,000 instead of the 6,000. They will do the same in future knowing that their failure will still be rewarded.Viva zed
Give them the money they worked hard 4 it
I do not support the nonsense of rewarding failure. they should indeed be given $3000 as a good will allowance for their spirited fight they put up despite being on their on in this battle without the motivation of the coach who was busy looking for a job with the so called big team what an insult!
Did I miss something? Did FIFA change the rules of the game and when did that happen. I though you win games by scoring goals and not playing well. Rewarding mediocrity, I hope it works
Zambia has been to the the quarter finals, semi finals and finals before. There is nothing new about playing well because Zambia always play good football, there are very few times when Zambia bad. What we need is winning games nothing less. Rewarding the players will just make that French coach big headed as if he has taken us to greater heights when in fact we lost the game and failed to go to the world cup. NEVER RENEW THE CONTRACT FOIR THAT COACH BECAUSE he has already stated that he wants to coach another country in Africa. it is only in this RB govt where those who have failed to win can be rewarded with winning bonuses. You do not reward a team for playing well, you reward for winning. Football is about winning nothing less.
Please those who have contacts with agents in Europe, let them help that boy MBOLA to move to one of the big teams. His brain in football terms is superb. He only made one mistake in that Nigeria game when he allowed Odemwinge to run with the ball. At the age of 16 he deserves a very good European team and i wonder why our players are not given a chance by some of these big teams. Is it because we do not speak french? I can see Mbola shinning at Arsenal, in most spanish clubs he can fit very well. I have now watched Christopher Katongo and my observation is that he has a lot of energy but lacks skill. Actually the younger brother is more skilful than him. He compensates lack of skill with energy.
No doubt, the boys played very well. Let us just say we’re rewarding them for the following reasons;
they played very well, they need encouragement to get even better, they are poorly paid for such a huge job (compare output of some politicians vs pay)….and please just keep that coach & let him grow with the boys.
What is important at this time is to keep that team and bring in more to increase competition. if it is decided to change the team manager/coach, it must be addresed that changing or starting a new team is not needed because this has always been the case more especially our local coaches for reasons known to themselves. Everytime the team loses you change it thats not the way you can have a strong team. Consistence is very important if we are to beat Nigeria next time we play them.
What is important at this time is to keep that team and bring in more to increase competition. if it is decided to change the team manager/coach, it must be addresed that changing or starting a new team is not needed because this has always been the case more especially our local coaches for reasons known to themselves. Everytime the team loses you change it thats not the way you can have a strong team. Consistence is very important if we are to beat Nigeria next time we play them. :d/
Fair play. This will provide incentive for the team to improve as it shows their efforts are being rewarded. Bah humbug to the non believers. You love your child win or lose. Doesn’t mean your neighbour gets it.
The term winning bonus means you only get paid when you win.These guys did not win alot of companies pumped money into this team to see it succeed,thats why they managed to stay longer in camp than some of our competitors like cameroun.The reward for all that money pumped in by companies should have been to lift the cup.So this nonsesnse of rewarding people for failing to win should not be tolerated.Thats what happens when you are used to losing and failing you start comparing yourself to other failures,no amongst all the other failures i was the best nonsense.Even if we keep this team it will never repeat this performance our zambian players last a maximum of 2 years,they always lose form,.
#56 Zambia’s Number 1 Fan: Sorry this is a wrong way of motivating some one- paying them even when they dont deliver. I served under RB’s Faz admintration as Super Division official. This habit of no lets pay them pantu bola yachikosa only breeds more complacency. The players will now make it a habit to demand payment even when they have lost the game. Kalu knows this very well. Yes there must be an allowance for participating in the tournament but surely not for playing well and losing.
mr presido, give renard good conditions as well so as to keep him, i hear nigeria is after him.
Zambia won 1 game, drew one game and lost two games, so what is there to celebrate? nothing my friends, the insolent coach should be fired for this gross under performance. This is the only country where people celebrate failure no wonder our economy is in ruins…
Continued from no 57.
Pay these characters those winning bonuses that they dont not deserve some of them will even stop going for training and will concentrate on drinking their heads off in kalingalinga until the money is finished.Pay people according to performance not issuing non-value adding directives even when its not necessary,so that you are seen to be working.
62. Kwena chachine abaiche nabaleta isaasa pa ZED. it was so great watching how our boys were playing. Our boys are great they have brought back the Zambian soccer that we had in the 90s. Boys go go forward we are supporting you full time.
why pay losers??? thats why zambians never progress. paying those chaps will only make think that it is normal and that they will get a bonus whenever they lose by penalties. this is the message they are sending out. if anything since when did nigeria become a team that is highly considered?? nigeria have bin playing useless ball in past years and u feel proud to actually lose to them?? rb is the dumbest humpty dumpty i have ever known. how can he think so shiiiiity?? he wipes his matako with his head. shiiit head
people, the boys deserve the bonus, they performed well, dd not score but we as zambians have no hard feelings. they dd their best, balekeni bafana bamvele bwino nabo.
They deserve to be paid. They played well. I was so impressed to see how well they palyed. I would just advise that the same team should continue being built. We may end up having the next Africa Cup won by Zambia. Viva Chipolopolo.
pay them, sports ministry does not spend money on anything…
I feel sorry for the boys. They never get appreciated at all. Its only fair that they get something, anything but a mere handshake. Call it a token of appreciation, whatevet the name, its not every day that they see $6,000. Why not make it $15,000? the boys got families to feed and they are the poorest soccer players this side of the equator!
Yes our boys deserve the money but HR MUST GO.He poured contempt on Zambia on BBC as a mediocre team and that he aims for a top team in Africa.Now which top team? cos the so called hot favourites Cameroon and Ivory coast could not even go into shoot outs like Our Copper Bullets did.If that isnt enough,he called a Zedian Journalist as a piece of shit.
Losing equals to winning in Zambia. The boys may have played well but they certainly did not win. If anything they lost and they were knocked out. So what are the winning bonus for? This is encouraging mediocrity.
blue blood numbala 69! eya mune! ni apopene! u have hit the ka muspikili mu point!
Strickly speaking they get paid for playing for Zambia, why should they be rewarded for nothing. We’ve thousands of teachers goibg for months without getting their pay. How does this president of ours think? Please have a long term vision for zambia mr president. Please STOP this nonesense!
Pliz Pay them they ve worked for it and deserve it, Chipolopolo work extra hard. I’m just requesting FAZ to start preperations Now in readness for any future assignment rather than waiting.We now Know which player to use whilst we search for more talentn extensively.
Oh my God. Do we all realise that our team only won one game from the tournament? This makes me wonder as an educated person why we are paying these boys a winning allowance #19 and 20. The retirees are suffering with their families and RB has never issued an order to have them paid what they worked for.
This country is indeed being taken for granted. I don’t know which team can be given a proper party at the state house for loosing the game.
Foodball is about gaols while politics is about numbers. I wish we can have Sata as president for having huge numbers of people during the campegns.
Zambians need to be wise, I mean this because am not happy.
capitalism nayonaula mwe bekala ku bulaya, what is wrong with paying the players? Akaso muleke.
ba minister, don’t listen to some bloggers, am not a soccer fan, am a lady but i enjoyed the matches and see the need to reward them. Go RB! at least for now