16 March 2011
A Sports Council of Zambia (SCZ) strategic meeting with the Kalusha Bwalya-led FAZ executive committee and the Andrew Kamanga-led group yesterday flopped after Kalusha refused to attend the meeting saying he could not be in the same gathering with ordinary affiliate members.
And the Kamanga faction and the Zambia Voluntary Soccer Fans Association (ZAVOSOFA) have called on the Kalusha group to apologise to Republican President Rupiah Banda for disclosing contents of a confidential letter.
The meeting, that was scheduled to start at 11:00 hours yesterday at the National Sports Development Centre (NASDEC), failed to take off after Kalusha refused to be in the same meeting with the Kamanga group.
FAZ executive member Marsha Chilemena was first to arrive with Kalusha together with co-opted member Miles Sampa with general secretary George Kasengele arriving 30 minutes later.
Kamanga was with his acting general secretary Simataa Simataa, committee members Welly Chikuka, Stafford Kayame and Keith Mwewa.
Kalusha, who just stood by the door of the SCZ boardroom, found the Kamanga group already seated, refused to sit down and demanded for a meeting with the SCZ general secretary Rodgers Chipili and board member Maxwell Sichula, who was supposed to chair the meeting.
It was at that point that Kalusha sought audience with Chipili and Sichula and after an hour, the group stormed out of the NASDEC buildings and the Kamanga group was informed that Kalusha had refused to attend the meeting with them.
Kamanga said the behaviour exhibited by Kalusha was regrettable and called on the SCZ to crack the whip, saying it was now evident that Kalusha was not interested in resolving the wrangles.
He said it was sad that Kalusha showed no regard for authority and showed no respect towards his group whom he referred to as affiliates despite them having been elected by the two-third of the FAZ members.
“It is sad that Kalusha can have disregard for a meeting that was called to discuss important matters ahead of the AGM. His levels of arrogance are uncalled-for and he cannot hold the nation to ransom just because he does not want to resolve issues,” said a visibly annoyed Kamanga.
He said his group had been following the constitution unlike Kalusha who had no regard for the FAZ statutes and said his boycott of the meeting meant going back to point zero with the Zurich meeting having no bearing.
Kamanga said the levels of insolence exhibited by Kalusha were alarming because it went to show that he had no regard for a body that was instituted under the Act of Parliament.
Simataa said the SCZ had assured them that it would try to meet both parties to iron out some issues before the AGM and advised Kalusha to have business manners by attending a meeting where he could have raised a motion if he was unhappy with something.
Meanwhile, Simataa said Kalusha should apologise for releasing a confidential letter to the media and also trying to distort information with a view of winning sympathy.
He said Kalusha should swallow his pride and apologise and not just talking in the newspapers, adding that an apology should be extended to Sports Minister Kenneth Chipungu for the unwarranted comments attributed to him following a statement that the Government was unhappy with the current management of football in Zambia.
ZAVOSOFA strongman Peter Makembo equally told FAZ to publicly apologise to Republican president and stop taking his goodwill for nothing.
“Let them stop taking advantage of the president just because he is an ardent soccer fan, but should realise that there are other sporting disciplines that yawn for the type of support they get from the Government and the president can easily reduce their funding,” he said.
Efforts to get a comment from Kalusha failed.
AllAfrica – All the Time