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South Africa’s 2010 ambassador, Kalusha Bwalya has declared his candidature for the Football Association of Zambia presidency.
Kalusha, who last year lost the bid to become COSAFA president, hopes to cap his illustrious football career with the highest office in national football administration.
Kalusha, who is currently the FAZ vice-president, is the country’s most successful footballer and holds many posts both at continental and global level and, now believes time has come for him to add more value to Zambian football.
At a media briefing at Lusaka’s Taj Pamodzi Hotel yesterday, Kalusha who is Fifa’s stadiums’ safety sub-committee vice-chairman and a member of the technical committee, said time had come for him to make FAZ a financially-viable association.Kalusha reflected with regret his four years as FAZ vice-president, saying people’s views were suppressed while some people had become more important than the association.
He said there was need to change the approach and be more tolerant and inclusive.
“The sport is too big for the few to administer,” Kalusha said.
His four years in office was climaxed by a stand-off with FAZ president Teddy Mulonga.
The former Zambia captain and coach, said he had a strong conviction that FAZ was capable of sustaining itself through maximising on its marketing potential to develop the game and rehabilitate former footballers who are now languishing.
He noted with regret that while he had earned his livelihood all his life, some players he shared glory with have been floundering and can barely survive.
“It makes me sad to see to see former national team players cast aside when their playing days come to an end and sacked every so often when they try to earn a livelihood as coaches,” Kalusha said.
While keeping his broader vision close to his chest, Kalusha said he would ensure returned players are trained in either business enterprises or form a trust fund to assist them.
“These people brought joy and glory to a lot of hearts, some long gone but yet we are the first to laugh in their hour of need,” Kalusha said.
Kalusha has played professional football in all continents bar Australia, with his peak being at PSV Eindhoven in the Netherlands, a team he joined after leaving his first station in Europe – Cercle Brugge of Belgium which he joined at the end of 1985 when he left Mufulira Wanderers.
His football skills also took him to Mexican giants Nexaca, Correcaminos and Vera Cruz when he made an impact with his wizardly left foot.
Source: Kickoff.com
THE Government has congratulated the Zambia national soccer team for qualifying to the 2008 African Cup of Nations finals after Sunday’s 3-1 win over South Africa and challenged them to bring the continental title back home following their splendid performance.
Zambian Chronicle 
