PRESIDENT Edgar Lungu says newly elected Football Association of Zambia (FAZ) president Andrew Kamanga is a competent administrator whose love for football will help continue to grow the game.
The President said this when he congratulated Kamanga on his election, adding that Kalusha Bwalya will continue to hold a special place in the lives of the Zambian people for his contribution to the development of the game.
“Our heartfelt congratulations go to Mr Andrew Kamanga for his deserved victory as the new president of the Football Association of Zambia.
“Mr Andrew Kamanga is a competent administrator and his love for football will help continue to grow the game. We also congratulate the new vice-president, Richard Kazala and all the members of the new committee,” President Lungu said on his official Facebook Page.
President Lungu said Kalusha has a special place in the lives of Zambians from his days as a player, as Africa’s Player-of-the-Year in 1988, and the role he played in rebuilding the team after the 1993 tragedy.
“Our good wishes also go to Kalusha who has done a fantastic job so far and contributed to the promotion and growth of football in Zambia as a player, coach, and administrator.
“God saved Kalusha’s life when he missed that fateful flight which resulted in that fatal crash where Zambia lost its entire national soccer team. His life was spared to continue helping our journey towards great football. And this was evident when we as a country, lifted the 2012 Africa Cup.
“To Mr Andrew Kamanga and his entire committee, let football win, let the glory of our national team and the entire soccer development continue to rise,” the President said.
Meanwhile, Sports Minister Vincent Mwale said it was now time for Kamanga to implement his manifesto and Government was ready to work with him and take the game forward.
“The people have spoken, at the end of the day, football should be the winner. Obviously, he (Kamanga) had a good message and now it’s time to put manifesto to the ground. Government is ready to work with Kamanga and we hope he will put his expertise and knowledge to practice for the development of football.
“Special thanks to Kalusha Bwalya for not only successfully leading the football family in the country under his two terms of office as FAZ President, but also for ably and diligently representing Zambia at higher levels of football such as CAF and FIFA.
“The Government appreciates all your good work you have done for mother Zambia individually and collectively with the committee you led, and we can only wish you the best in your future endeavours,” Mwale said.
Ba Kamanga you have slayed my man!
Kalusha will be appointed Minister of sports in August cabinet….
Edgar should also start preparing for his exist in August. The story on LT about UTH is just but one of the reasons Edgar should bid farewell to us in August
Certain statements make God look bad. Lungu says God spared Kalu’s life but decided to kill the other 30 players, officials, crew & journalist. How fair.
I appreciate AK’s resilience. Weaker souls would have given up. But he soldiered on despite the animosity he faced from FAZ house. His & Simataa’s were lonely voices in the wilderness the last six years of Kalu’s misrule at the helm of the FA.
I pray that AK will concentrate on what’s most important, ZAMBIAN SOCCER & not retribution.
Congrats again!
Ka Vincent mwale had been quite during the revelations of corruption and missmangment at FAZ as if he was being paid by kalusha. FAZ is only autonomous to an extent because tax payers money is being used to nail them out.
If our money is allegedly being used corruptly surely GRZ must say something.
It is only the pipo who demanded accoutability.
Its important to change leaders….congratulation mr andrew kamanga for the victory as faz president.,you just have to work hard with zambian football in compassionate manner.,,best wishes
what we wanted has appened
What you wanted not we! Sir
We wanted change at FAZ, Mr eminent is not alone.
what we wanted has appened….viva andrew kamanga
Next to go is Lungu he has failed.This is a year change.The giants will fall and the seemingly weak and oppressed will take over God Jehova of armies has spoken.
Next stop ZAAA. Lets get rid of Mr Mpondela and bring in Mr Samuel Matete!!
Kamanga has had his first test in office and lets see how he deals with it. The resignation of the team manager, Eric Mwanza, nkweto and the pending conference by the coach. Lets see how his negotiatiob skills apply. You cant just lose such crutical staff and you dont isssue a statement or at least meet with them. If the resignations continue it will spill over to the players. Remember we have Africa cup and world cup.
Hope Kamanga will upbeat kalu’s achievements during his raign as an administrator.
The fact of the matter was that Galu was an appaulling corrupt administer…there is nothing tangiable to show for in Faz it still depends and spoonfed on taxpayers. Anyway Lazy Lungu is equally incompetent and corrupt.
Good work Great Kalu, now talk to your friends at MTN and Super Sports to stop sponsuring Zambia football and let this useless Kamanga get new sponsors for the National Team. Staunch Supporter of Kalu PF
No, No….next to go from the political scene is HH. Lungu has to stay to continue with his good works
By the way has kalusha congratulated kamanga? The resignations of mwanza
and nkweto if true are to be expected. They belonged to the former corrupt executive voted out so they have just preempted their dismissals.
Congrats to Team Kamanga, now root out corrupt elements at Football House/FAZ…..Lesson to ALL, don’t over stay your welocme:leave when audience is calling for encore.Get rid of the feeling of indispensability.
Great article…Kalusha acted maturely by allowing people to registered and to stand against him
This is what democracy is all about.Now its time for ZAA to follow suit by allowing Matete to stand against Mponda…
huh? he did everything to block other people, but it didn’t work. Hello? Its time to wake up!
What ever Kalusha’s mistakes/corruption, I think calling someone Galu is going too far. Like Chagwa said, the Zambian national team was re-built around Kalu and he has contributed over 34 years of his life to the national team. The minimum he deserves is a little respect. We wish Kamanga all the best, he should not start by destroying what he finds but instead build on it. Under Kalu, FAZ has been at its most independent, of course GRZ was still contributing but we all know just how broke FAZ used to be.
Next up should be the out going president Lungu. Kalu, we thank you for your contribution and hopefully you will not take this defeat with a heavy heart, but continue to be a resource to Zambian football in any way asked. As for Kamanga, he needs to start getting $hit done immediately, we are not going to sit here and accept mediocre results and corruption practices. This in my opinion is what destroyed Kalu. Good luck to the new executive
Hey guys,
Update please, did Kalu contest the elections?