
FOOTBALL Association of Zambia (FAZ) president Kalusha Bwalya has said he has got constitutional powers to punish erring executive members and he will not condone indiscipline in the association. Reiterating his earlier pronouncement that he will crack the whip on anyone found wanting among the FAZ executive members, Kalusha said in an interview from South Africa yesterday that in any establishment, there was an institutional code of ethics that had to be followed.
He was reacting to FAZ committee member, Pivoty Simwanza who said on Monday that Kalusha had no constitutional powers to suspend anybody in the executive and accused him of making unilateral decisions on important FAZ matters. But Kalusha, who expressed surprise at Simwanza’s claims, said FAZ was not an animal farm where members could do and say anything. As head of FAZ, he had the authority to ensure that football was properly administered countrywide and that discipline prevailed.
He advised Simwanza to follow the right channels when airing his grievances and not use the media. “I am actually very surprised that he (Simwanza) actually said that. If he was in the last executive meeting, he would have a clear understanding of issues because most of those things he is accusing me of, were discussed. We have executive meetings on a quarterly basis. All the contracts we have achieved as FAZ, I actually discussed with the executive. Soon, there is the MTN deal coming and they are all aware about it.
He said he took exception to an executive committee member to take the game into disrepute and it was good Simwanza came out in the open.
“That is why I am saying enough is enough. Now I will crack the whip. It’s not my nature, but I am forced to. I have always been disciplined on and off the pitch.
“There are rules and regulations guided by a constitution, disciplinary code (like in FIFA’s case), or an ethics code. FAZ is not a jungle where there are no rules. There has to be discipline and recognition of authority in any establishment.
[pullquote]“People should differentiate between Kalusha the player and Kalusha the administrator. As a leader, I have to ensure that football is administered properly because as a player, I was disciplined on and off the pitch, and as an administrator I have to ensure that football is properly administered,” Kalusha said.[/pullquote]
“We can’t always be talking; that is a wrong culture. This is not a zoo or an animal farm where there are no rules and regulations. If people attack me personally, I have the right to respond. You can’t go on insulting the board chairman. “People should differentiate between Kalusha the player and Kalusha the administrator. As a leader, I have to ensure that football is administered properly because as a player, I was disciplined on and off the pitch, and as an administrator I have to ensure that football is properly administered,” Kalusha said.
The FAZ president said the association was lucky to have a Republican President like Rupiah Banda who had the passion for football and had gone out of his way to woo sponsors to football.
Kalusha said since he started heading FAZ, the association has recorded surplus and sponsorship has increased compared to any past executive because the corporate world heeded the fundraising initiative by President Banda and the business community has confidence in Kalusha because of his good reputation.
He said during his tenure as FAZ president, the association has stopped begging money from Government, only for senior national team assignments because there are huge amounts involved when bringing in professional players.
He said he always consulted FAZ executive members on any sponsorship agreements, saying if Simwanza was in the last executive meeting he would understand most of the issues he is accusing Kalusha of.He said most of the sponsorship contracts only required the signature of the association president, vice- president, treasurer or association general secretary because he was chief executive officer of Football House, to sign and not each and every member of FAZ.
[pullquote]Kalusha said he did not have to live in Zambia to manage football because even the FIFA president Joseph Sepp Blatter does not stay in Zurich, where the world soccer governing body’s headquarters is;[/pullquote]
“My role is to see that money is coming in the association and to do that I have to negotiate. I do not get anything for signing. Football is a product that we have managed to sell, but he (Simwanza) should tell the nation when he ever got sponsorship for FAZ.
He said Simwanza like any other member of the executive, was privy to classified information relating to sponsorship at Football House and challenged the executive committee member to visit the secretariat and verify his information.
Kalusha said he did not have to live in Zambia to manage football because even the FIFA president Joseph Sepp Blatter does not stay in Zurich, where the world soccer governing body’s headquarters is; or the CAF president Issa Hayatou who is based in Cameroun when the headquarters is in Cairo, Egypt, but that the FAZ president was easily accessible via mobile phone or email for any serious matters.
[Times of Zambia]