March 29, 2008
Soccer icon Kalusha Bwalya has scooped the FAZ Presidency. The former PSV and Mufulira Wanderers beat incumbent Teddy Mulonga and Lusaka businesman Hanif Adams.Kalusha got 120 votes, while incumbent president Teddy Mulonga received 66 and Lusaka businessman and chairman of Dynamos Hanif Adams attained only 11 votes.
In his victory speech to the councillors, Kalusha said,”Our moto is, its eyes on the ball.”
Another former intenational and now Malole member of parliament, Emmanuel Munaile is new vice president. Munaile fed off competition from Simataa Simataa, Joseph Nkole and Yamba Yamba
Borniface Mwamelo, an Mtn Zambia employee is the new Treasurer.
Former ZNBC soccer analyst Macha Chilemena joins Pivoty Simwanza, Henschel Chitembeya as commitee members.
In a way, this was not just the biggest day in the life of this humble servant of Zambian football who rose from the dusty streets of Mufulira in the Copper belt to become an icon, but it also wiped off the disappointment of the day he crushingly lost 11-3 to Suketu Patel for the Cosafa presidency in Botswana last year.
His victory must have also encouraged Abedi Pele in Ghana, George Weah in Liberia,Roger Milla in Cameroon, Stephen Keshi and Daniel Amokachi in Nigeria and even Lucas Radebe, Shoes Moshoeu, Mark Fish and Neil Tovey in South Africa, that the time has come, as he became only the second former African Player of the year to win presidential elections after Salif Keita of Mali.
And long into the night, a lone figure kept shouting “Eyes on the Ball,” in reference to Kalusha Bwalya’s battle cry, a slogan he coined during his campaign which took him across the country’s north, east and western areas ashe canvassed for votes promising supporters a new era for Zambian football if elected.
“Allow me to express my sincere gratitude for the confidence you have placed in me by electing me president of the Football Association of Zambia,” said a clearly exhausted but jubilant Bwalya at the post conference as together with his new executive they were installed into power by the chairman of the National Sports Council.
The campaign was hard and at times rough as some delegates are reported to have resorted to underhand means, attempting to buy votes by allegedly purchasing playing kits for certain amateur clubs in poor rural areas of the country but in the end, no amount of bribing could stop the people from expressing themselves. And Bwalya certainly displayed maturity and diplomacy when he wooed his vanquished opponents by calling for unity in the greater scheme of things as far as Zambian football is concerned. “While this election has signalled the end of an era and the beginning of another,” hesaid, “a new era that is set to revolutionize our game and take us to a new and higher level that we so desire, we must remain united for the good of the game.” And the 1988 Footballer of the Year clearly extended an olive branch to the defeated Teddy Mulonga and his executive that was overwhelmingly voted out of office when he said that this was a time of healing. “In football, there are no permanent enemies. In fact, there are no enemies at all but competitors who at the end of each match or contest, shake hands in the spirit of fair play. For those who have lost this election, I would like to urge them to get back into clubs and associations to continue to do more to develop the game in Zambia.”
“This has been without doubt a very hotly contested election,” explained Bwalya. “Butl ike in any football match, there will always be a winner and a loser. To my executive, time for rhetoric is over and the time for hard work is upon us,” he said to wild cheering.
New FAZ Election Executive
Kalusha Bwalya……………President
Emmanuel Munaile………Vice President
Borniface Mwamelo……..Treasurer
Committee Members
Marcha Chilemena
Pivoty Simwanza
Henschel Chitembeye
Violet Bwalya
Keegan K Chipango
Lenny Kamwambi Nkhuwa
52 Comments on "Kalu: It’s eyes on the ball"
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Christopher on Sat, 29th Mar 2008 3:55 PM
Indeed it’s eyes on the ball. This is what we need in Zambia. Go Kalu go, go Zambia go. Congrats to all of you and wish you all the best. Chris Kanema: Germany
DemRoyalHuslas on Sat, 29th Mar 2008 4:23 PM
Frankly, i was not in your boat but its like alot of people have seen the potential in you and that earns my respect for you… hey congrats Kalu “its eyes on the ball” … Rj
yes on Sat, 29th Mar 2008 4:57 PM
Still the Great!
A new dawn has come, what an inspiration you are to many Zambians, Please do use your international exposure to take the game you so much love to another level, GOD has just awarded mother Zambia free kicks for the next four years. blows those chicks and execute, Congratulations.
Jimmy
Anonymous on Sun, 30th Mar 2008 2:33 AM
I NEVER KNEW THAT THE ELECTIONS HAVE BEEN DONE ALREADY.GO KALU BECAUSE OUR HOPE IS ON YOU TO REVIVE ZAMBIAN SOCCER.AS FOR TEDDY YOUR TIME IS OVER AND GO AND REST.
Wangbu on Sun, 30th Mar 2008 5:20 AM
Nice news and views. Good luck in the World Cup. Happy blogging!
Concerned Zambian in RSA on Mon, 31st Mar 2008 6:16 AM
Well, we have no choice now but to accept him as the winner. We shall only hope for the best in the next 4 years.
kambani ronald lungu on Tue, 1st Apr 2008 3:44 AM
congrats Kalu for the victory,time has come to show what you are capable of doing.Provide the guidance we require for us to regain our past groly and be part of the 2010 world cup.We now have ex-internationals in the driving seat and it’s true it’s “eyes on the ball”