February 7, 2009
Kalusha Bwalya has said it is time for ex-internationals to have a say in the running of football on the continent.
Bwalya, the President of the Football Association of Zambia (FAZ), is contesting for a seat on the Executive Committee of the Confederation of African Football (CAF) and says he is confident of being elected, ahead of incumbent Suketu Patel of Seychelles.
“I have confidence that I will win the election. It is time for ex–internationals to have a say in CAF,” Great Kalu is quoted by Kickoff.com
The 43–year old, who captained Zambia for several years before retiring from international football in 2002, does not expect to have an easy ride against Patel, who currently occupies the slot for Southern Africa Zone B.
Patel is also Chairman of the CAF’s Finance Commission.
Bwalya was the star of Zambia’s exciting run in the 1988 Olympic Games in Seoul, where they sensationally thrashed Italy 4-0 in a group phase match. Zambia has not qualified for the World Cup finals but the ‘Chipolopolo’, as they were renamed after the unfortunate plane crash of 1993 that wiped out a generation of national team A–players, were runners–up at the African Nations Cup in 1974 and 1994.
Bwalya was one of the best African players of his generation, leading by example on and off the pitch and excelling in professional club career that took him across Europe and Latin America.
Another ace of his generation, Ghanaian Abedi Pele has been trying vainly to win a slot into the CAF Executive Committee.
Bwalya himself recently lost in the election to become the President of the Confederation of Southern African Football Associations (COSAFA).
There will also be some interesting battle for one of the slots for East and Central Africa, when Burundian, Moses Baransananiye stakes his seat against Lydia Nsekera, the President of the Burundi federation, and Magdi Sham El Din (Sudan) and Hussein Fedoul (Djibouti).
In the northern Zone, Algeria federation President Mohamed Raouraoua will face a contest from Libya’s Jamal El Jaafari.
Raouraoua is also contesting the FIFA Executive Committee seat for the zone, hoping to upstage incumbent Slim Chiboub of Tunisia. Chiboub, who coordinated Tunisia’s hosting of the 1994 and 2004 African Nations Cup finals, is son–in–law to Tunisia President Zinedine Abidine Ben Ali.
Raouraoua is not the only one gunning for that seat, as Chiboub will do battle as well with Egyptian Hani Abou Reda. Adoum Djibrine from Chad is being challenged by Leon Ababe from Gabon.
Nigeria’s Dr Amos Adamu and Mali’s Amadou Diakite are not being challenged for their positions in West Africa. Adamu is also a Member of the FIFA Executive Committee, alongside Ivorian Jacques Anouma.
Also not challenged for his seat is CAF President Issa Hayatou. The 31st CAF General Assembly will take place at the Eko Hotel & Suites on Wednesday February 11, 2009.
[Kickoff.com]
63 Comments on "Kalu: Ex-Internationals should take over CAF"
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Shidada, Namibia on Sat, 7th Feb 2009 12:25 PM
Number 1.
Kalu must fix FAZ first
Dinamo on Sat, 7th Feb 2009 1:12 PM
I admire Kalu’s determination to get positions but I think he has to first test his leadership skills by putting the Zambian Football House in order.Already Kalu appears to be too busy to handle the problems at FAZ so getting this CAF post will in my opinion worsen things
Georgia Russia on Sat, 7th Feb 2009 1:51 PM
i agree with shidada and dinamo,
kalu needs to put things in order at home b4 aspiring for higher office.there are a lot of issues that needs to be sorted out and if hes failing to sort them out at national level,i wonder hw hes gona manage at continetal level
Step aside on Sat, 7th Feb 2009 3:10 PM
Ba Kalu, you are indeed brave man and I too, admire your determination but, FAZ is in a mess right now. Hows about you sort out FAZ first (which will be a plus on your CV) then aspire for other posts. I agree with the above posts (Shidada, Dinamo & Georgia)
chippa nairobi on Sat, 7th Feb 2009 5:14 PM
Ba kalu help Zambians to improve the Game!!!!
Ben Chileshe on Sat, 7th Feb 2009 5:54 PM
I completely agree with what the following said. How can Kalu expect to do well at CAF when he is having problems at home. e.g. I expected Klu to support Zambian coaches but no he replaced the with a foreiner who is so far not doing well. So Kalu concentrate on home issues first. Chileshe
@Dinamo
@Georgia Russia
@Georgia Russia
@Step aside
@chippa nairobi
dazz on Sat, 7th Feb 2009 7:28 PM
kalu , good ambitions , but charity begins at home , sort out our home issues first.
Tm>jics on Sat, 7th Feb 2009 9:46 PM
I know kalu is doing every posibilities to improve the soccer standard in the country, but the only bvuto i realise are critics from the past administrations. They know the roop holes in faz, instead of giving the young man ways of improving football, they’re busy rushing in the media to expose his failures. For example when a child is not doing well at school and the parents a busy telling their child he/she is a dull and is going nowhere, definately that child will fail and go nowhere. So let us wish each over best of luck to archieve better things. We’re not failures unless we are wished to fail. Finally, congrats to Clifford Mulenga for putting one in the goal at your new club THANDA LOYAL ZULU. Supersport 1-3 Thanda loyal zulu
New President on Sun, 8th Feb 2009 12:23 AM
Indeed charity begins at home, we all like your determination Kalu but please put FAZ and Zambian football back to your old days of victory first, that way you will receiver more support from all loving soccer fans on continent to contentest CAF position.
KK11 on Sun, 8th Feb 2009 2:25 AM
Come wednesday, most of the major African countries will be having high profile friendlies and we will be on the sidelines arguing about illicit transfers, Faz’s “over ambitious” leader and the so called “physical Trainer” coach. Gone r the days when major footballing power houses came calling for friendlies, now we will be lucky if Lesotho offers to play us in a friendly. Kalusha promised us high profile friendlies last year, we are still waiting. So when we play Egypt and have our behinds handed to us, please don’t be suprised or dissapointed and don’t dare blame the coach or the players because we can all see the train wreck coming.We are going into cairo unprepared and regardless of all the support we give the team and there great effort we are headed for defeat. If it walks like a duck,quacks like a duck and looks like a duck….its a DUCK!!
FIFA on Sun, 8th Feb 2009 1:23 PM
Kalu is not a proven Admnistrator.He has not done done much in administration at club and national level.To me its like he is in Faz just for personal gains ,I am saying so because in the current state of Zambian football,its President must be home all the time trying to improve soccer and not spend time with extra duties.I wish him the best because its not only Kalu to lose it will be Zambia
Anonymous on Mon, 9th Feb 2009 2:36 AM
so Egypt is playing Ghana next wednesday as preps ! What are we doing ? Lets get serious FAZ!
Uncle Bobs on Mon, 9th Feb 2009 6:57 AM
BA TM>JICs apa peve mwaitaya. Stop hero worshipping and call a spade a spade. We will support Kalu but first he needs to put FAZ in order. Infact he should guard more the weak points you claim poast administrators take advantage. Besides why should he be caught in those traps-a wrong is wrong even if it’s pointed out by your “sworn enemies”!!!
This is the 21st century and only knowledge is the best teacher and not experience (nothing like ex-footballers running football but those with knowledge of leadership, corporate governance, administration, change management etc. Things have changed and can’t be done the way someone applied them 20 years ago ifyamufedolo!!!
Vincent Numbwa on Mon, 9th Feb 2009 8:44 AM
It is obvious that Kalu is not ripe for this CAF position given the issues that keep denting the affairs of football admn in Zed. However, it is his right to make that choice of standing or not and since he has made up his mind to stand the least we can do even when we may not feel it is his time , is to support him.
All the Best Great Kalu.
Amuna Onzuna on Mon, 9th Feb 2009 9:54 AM
I think Kalu should be supported and encouraged instead of the insults he is currently recieving.He has proved that he is the ONLY Zambian who will stand up for challenges like these.First,as a player,he courageously helped in the building of the Dream team that reached the 1994 Afcon finals.Then,again as a player,he was sidelined by then coach Burchard Ziese and then FAZ president Teddy Mulonga at the Burkina Faso Afcon finals in 1998,but humbly played for mother Zambia even when he was striped on the captaincy.As an administrator,he tried to challenge for the Top job a COSAFA even when he had no support from his Brothers and Sisters from Zambia (what a shame).Now,he is vying for a post at CAF but still he recieves little or no support from fellow countrymen.Kushe,what kind of people are we?.How about us,what have we done to show up to the challenges we face currently?.As of the so called mess which is in FAZ,Im sure everyone knows that for any competition to exist successfully,there should be investment.Now,how much investment have we brought in football?.Im sure everyone of us knows that,the mines which supported sports in the country have stopped doing so,and the cost of doing business is extremely high in that,nobody will risk investing in recreation services.I think,we have to blame the Government for all this.E.g,GRZ should be serious in re-building stadia,should re-invest in youth soccer,and should wipe out tax on sports items coming into the country (instead of reducing tax on beer).We may change the Admin of FAZ 100 times but we wont sort out the problems we currently face,till GRZ becomes effective.
Sibs. on Mon, 9th Feb 2009 10:41 AM
It is always an advantage for any country to have their own in Caf or Fifa.The are alot of added advantages.Though we have a lot of challenges with our game back home.
All the best to Kalu.Guys who have read the post today fill us in.I just saw a headline on the Post website that Marcha Chilemena has been suspended by the NSCZ??
Vincent Numbwa on Mon, 9th Feb 2009 11:14 AM
Sibs ,Sports Councial of Zambia has suspended Marcha Chilemena from all sporting activities affiliated to the SCZ in the country for allegedly rediculing a SCZ member Elliot M’hende over the Mayuka Saga invetigations.
Marcha is banned from attending all FAZ activities including meetings or any other sports functions organaised by affiliate Associations. SCZ has also appointed SZC Vice Chair lead a disciplinary committe to further consider the matter. Marcha is said to have failed to exculpate himself to the SCZ within the required 14 days and council has informed FAZ president about the action they have so far taken on Marcha.
Justice Kafusha on Mon, 9th Feb 2009 11:38 AM
@Sibs.
It is true Chilemena has been suspended. Just read the Post. His suspension is subject to an hearing please read below:
NATIONAL Sports Council of Zambia (NSCZ) has indefinitely suspended FAZ committee member Marcha Chilemena from all sporting activities for gross misconduct. NSCZ chairman Dr Julius Sakala confirmed the suspension yesterday. Dr Sakala said he had written to Football Association of Zambia president Kalusha Bwalya informing him of the action against Chilemena. This follows allegations that Chilemena accosted NSCZ board member Elliot M’hende at a named bank in Lusaka January over investigations into striker Emmanuel Mayuka’s transfer
Sibs. on Mon, 9th Feb 2009 12:19 PM
Thanks Ba Vincent & Ba Justice for the feedback.This Mayuka saga has brought a lot of bad blood.It looks like some people have taken it personal.
Spaks on Tue, 10th Feb 2009 8:05 AM
Can anyone confirm that kalu has withdrawn his candidature?