February 10, 2009
Kalusha said from Lagos yesterday that he withdrew because he felt that he had enough roles to play in the development of football despite not being in the CAF main executive committee.
The 45-year-old African football legend said he also wanted to foster unity in the Council for Southern African Football Associations (COSAFA) region.
Kalusha was challenging COSAFA president Suketu Patel for the position reserved for the southern region.
“It was an easy decision for me to make. The games that we have played are far much more important than the CAF position. My intention is to work for the good of football, which I have done all my life,” Kalusha said.
He said he was happy with the roles he was playing in FAZ, CAF and FIFA and believed he could contribute effectively even from the sidelines of the executive.
Kalusha sits on the CAF football development committee and is also a member of the FIFA technical committee and technical study group.
He is also vice-chairman of the FIFA stadiums’ safety and security committee.
“I will be busy enough in the coming three years. And I am happy that I will continue where I am. I will support the guys who are there for the good of the game,” Kalusha said.
CAF president Issa Hayatou, who has held the position since 1988, is unopposed for the top position.
The election will be conducted tomorrow during the CAF congress [Zambia Daily Mail]
73 Comments on "Kalu withdraws from CAF race"
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Mphatso on Tue, 10th Feb 2009 4:48 PM
Thanx Kalu…
rays on Tue, 10th Feb 2009 5:01 PM
The guy is a coward. he is afriad of a 2nd defeat
kachisa on Tue, 10th Feb 2009 5:16 PM
If that decision is really based on the interest of developing the game then bravo kalu,after all these positions will alwayz be there for him to contest in the future,focus on Zambia bululu……….
Dee on Tue, 10th Feb 2009 5:24 PM
Great Kalu you should not be scared of defeat…..get on the battle field u win u win, u lose, u lose coward
Dee on Tue, 10th Feb 2009 5:29 PM
The dude must have got bad vibes from his mates and this made him quickly change his position that the the so called former international players should take over the running of CAF…stick to thy word dude!!!!!!!!
Georgia Russia on Tue, 10th Feb 2009 5:53 PM
good move kalu,u have a lot to achieve at grassroot level.put things in order at faz.u siting on fifa and caf commitee’s is lots to give u loads of expirence.time will come wen u rise and we shall support u the way we supported u during yo playing career
monk police on Tue, 10th Feb 2009 6:14 PM
coward or no coward this is the best decision. Let him fix FAZ first and people will recommend him for higher positions.
Jaggari on Tue, 10th Feb 2009 7:27 PM
He’s not a coward. A lot of us felt that he needed to focus on the job at hand in Zambia and am sure many others feel the same. He got the message and we must give credit where it’s due. Now fix FAZ, big man.
Moses moyo on Tue, 10th Feb 2009 9:23 PM
Everything has got time kalu, that is the spirit we want…try next time you dont fear the game.
kash on Tue, 10th Feb 2009 10:09 PM
good decision.the right time will come for great kalu
Matafwali on Tue, 10th Feb 2009 11:29 PM
I don’t know what his reasons are, but I agree with those who think this was a great move on his part. Kalusha has a whole lot of work to deal with in cleaning up FAZ.
Josef, RSA, i have always wondered about that as well. I have never understood why so many of these leaders run unopposed, and we wonder why there are so many wrangles in so many FA’s around the world.
Ray M on Wed, 11th Feb 2009 3:11 AM
Our own Great Kalu made a very good decision.Like others have said the right time for king kalu will n i strongly believe that one day kalu will run caf.There is a problem in caf why do positions go unopposed u did ryt job.
FIFA on Wed, 11th Feb 2009 4:41 AM
Kalu nice move,atleast it shows that you have have ears and the eyes are on the ball once again and not only do you eyes on those caf seats.If possible you can also resign from Faz because the we are failing to prepare the national team yet we expect them to be in SA and Angola.Phiri and Kalu assembled a good team which can compete with any African team if it is adquately prepared and motivated.
Uncle Bobs on Wed, 11th Feb 2009 7:13 AM
Naa & Ray M, agreed Kalu made a good decision but timing is certainly not right. Did it have to take him to get there to realise that he needed to foster unity in the sports body he’s referring to. But at the end of the day he’s only human and can err and in my opinion just needs to have one clear focus. I remember my great big man Kaitano Chungu after asking and listening to what i had in store for my future, him cutting me short and saying “Young man i like your ideas, but do not make the mistake i made in life by having no single focus that gives way to other plans”. From that day, i refocussed my journey likewise.
Great Kalu, do not give up, just resolves your weaknesses and reinforce your strengths, but like i once told you at that first press conference you held at Pamodzi upon becoming FAZ Veep, carefully choose your friends (this in my opinion is one of your downsides).
Bonaventure on Wed, 11th Feb 2009 7:14 AM
Wise move for Great Kalu. CAf is very tricky. It’s run like the mafia style. The best time to challenge these guys in office is after 2010. Now people are saying Issa did us well by bringing 2010. After 2010 his use-by-date will catch up with him. We must ask ourselves why are some people not oppossed? Why have people like Irvin Khorza not challenged him? There is more to it than meets the eye. Weldone Kalu.
Shidada, Namibia on Wed, 11th Feb 2009 7:56 AM
This Issa guy is corrupt,as far as I can remember he has been in that position.
Billy on Wed, 11th Feb 2009 9:40 AM
He knew he was gonna lose. Wise decision though as you are not capable enough for that CAF position. Good luck Kalu for the future.
Jimbo on Wed, 11th Feb 2009 11:22 AM
Kalu, you love to embarass yourself. Before you left the country, you were so confident of beating Patel, ninchani manje…you have found that at CAF you are a small fish? Anyway good decision, now come home and sort out the that place you call FAZ.
Mabbwana on Wed, 11th Feb 2009 11:35 AM
Am sure great Kalu tested the waters whilst at the congress and the saw that he had no chance.
Good decision anyway and hop he will realise that he needs to make a name for himself here at home by 1st organising FAZ so that he goes to CAF with a good CV.
But one worrying thing is this issue of chaps going unopposed. Hayatou has been their way too long and sure be wise enough to step down. Does he think he is the only one in Africa who can ran CAF? Am sure there are forces which work to just keep him there.
Billy on Wed, 11th Feb 2009 12:06 PM
Mabbwana,
I hear you brother. Its true the man (Hayatou) has been there for too long. I guess its an african kind of style for a leader to be a life president. I dont blame him though, as we should blame the people surrounding him.
Spaks on Wed, 11th Feb 2009 12:50 PM
Whoa, its like part A of my dream come true, i had spoken against his intention to stand in the first place and to me it doesnt matter what reason he has for not standing but one thing is for sure its good he hasnt, Part B of my dream Ba Kalu, coz i know you read our blogs, lets start working on our failures back home, not all those who smile to you are genuine and like a Bemba proverb translated to mean that when you eat ground nuts and one is bad, u spit them all out, root out those trying to gain mileage from you and things will be fine. PS we are waiting for your press conference where you are expected to unveil some big achievements for Zambian Football.
mutale on Wed, 11th Feb 2009 1:09 PM
You have made a good move Kalu.Let’s develop Zambian soccer first.
Spaks on Wed, 11th Feb 2009 2:31 PM
Ba Ignatius, your calls have been aired by most of us Zamfoot faithfuls and infact we have gone a step further by suggesting a get together of those who feel they can assist this noble cause, there talks of openning a trust account for the lads and well it is subject to reponse from all of us, if you are intrested of which i believe you are get intouch with either the zamfoot admin or indeed myself on [email protected] so that we map a way forward and exchange notes. cheers
Justice Kafusha on Wed, 11th Feb 2009 2:55 PM
@Ignatius
Ignatius what progress is in Suketu Patel’s country as far as football is concerned? Can you tell us, maybe we have missed something
Justice Kafusha on Wed, 11th Feb 2009 3:00 PM
By the way Suketu is from Seychelles. In addition CAF like FIFA is corrupt and we all know that. Just think of it our own National Team can not advertise for any product when playing international games because FIFA and CAF have monopoly (adidas, Puma, Coca cola) the list is end less
Justice Kafusha on Wed, 11th Feb 2009 5:11 PM
Emmanuel Sheyi Adebayor has made history by becoming the first Togolese to be crowned African Footballer of the Year. The Arsenal striker was named the Glo-CAF Player of the Year 2008 at the Awards Gala on Tuesday night in Lagos, Nigeria. Adebayor, who celebrates his 25th birthday on February 26, beat Egypt and Al-Ahly midfielder Mohamed Aboutreika and Ghana midfielder Michael Essien to claim the prestigious individual honour in African football.
CAF Best XI
Goalkeeper – Carlos Idriss Kameni (Espanyol and Cameroon)
Defenders – Wael Gomaa (Al-Ahly and Egypt), Ismail Taye Taiwo (Olympique Marseille and Nigeria), Joseph Yobo (Everton and Nigeria), John Mensah (Olympique Lyon and Ghana)
Midfielders – Mohamed Aboutreika (Al-Ahly and Egypt), Michael Essien (Chelsea and Ghana), Yaya Toure (Barcelona and Cote d’Ivoire), Sulley Muntari (Inter Milan and Ghana)
Attackers – Samuel Eto’o (Barcelona and Spain), Emmanuel Adebayor (Arsenal and Togo)