Fans Pesperctive on FAZ Elections

By Winga Siwale
Head Men’s & Women's Soccer Coach
Keystone College, USA

Let me begin by stating that I cannot speak with the degree of clarity on the matter concerning the status of the upcoming FAZ elections or indeed the candidates themselves. Although I am a Zambian, I have lived in Diaspora since 1993 when I last visited Zambia and thus my knowledge of the ensuing climate in Zambian football is really from an ethic perspective.

Although I do not know the three candidates personally, they are all football people, and know the football landscape in the country well and this is an important requirement for the position. Football is a valuable part of our cultural framework and I think far too often the FAZ Presidency has been viewed as a stepping stone to a possible future political career. The end result in my opinion in the past is that we have had people running football that really had no business doing so.

In general, I could divulge pros and cons about all three, but the reality is I think that all three would do a good job. It must be said that Mr.Kalusha Bwalya does have an advantage over the other candidates because he knows FAZ due to the capacity he has been working in the last four years as the VP and his experience speaks for itself. He is my choice.

Football Development

An area I can comment on with a certain degree of clearness is that which deals with the area of football development. Invariably, one of the challenges that faces the leadership that will come into being post election time is to chart a course towards the 2010 world cup and the development of football in Zambia for the future.

The hiring of a permanent coach and planning the preparation cycle are priorities. The millennium has come and gone and lest we fall behind the changing times in the world game our administration must be proactive in revolutionizing the structure of our game in Zambia .

1993 Gabon Disaster Excuse

From a technical standpoint we produce exceptional players, in fact arguably some of the best on the African continent. We cannot forever sight the 1993 calamity and the loss of a generation of influence as a reason why we do not produce players that can compete in the top leagues in Europe and which are then transferable to success in international competition. The problem for me is bigger than just the coaches and the players; it is really with the administration. A lack of organization and foresight of the dynamic arena of player development on a national scale is at the root of the problem.

In Zambia we are a football passionate nation and as such we gauge success of our national team based on how we fair in international competition. Rightly so, but we must also understand that any success we can hope to achieve will be largely dependent on the quality of the programs that feed into our national teams. So far as giving advice I can tell you that I could probably talk all day on this one, but let me be specific and say that if we are concerning ourselves with charting a course towards 2010 then I will speak about purely the elite level, which includes club, provincial, regional, and national teams.

The elite level to me is all about player development and true player development for me occurs when each player’s daily training and playing environment is of the highest quality and in Zambia at the moment this does not happen.

However, if we can make this environment consistent, with a clear vision of what lies ahead for each player, development will be maximized and this can in turn lead to better players and more success on the field. Easier said than done, right?

Invest at Youth Level and Coaching

Well, I cannot say this will be easy, but I can definitely say that better organization at all levels is a definite requirement. However, we need a more concise list of curriculum guidelines for the U 12 through to the U 19 age groups at club, provincial and regional levels. The purpose should be too hopefully: Educate coaches as to the standard of play and expectations for each age, provide coaches with a framework with which to organize curriculum decisions, provide for consistency, with guidance through all levels of play, improve “vertical integration” for player development, and improve the quality of play on a national basis.

Zambiafootball.com asked a former FAZ official who is based in the UK on his opinion on the forth coming FAZ AGM and Elections. So far current FAZ Vice President and Zambian soccer icon Kalusha Bwalya, Lusaka Dynamos owner Hanif Adams and Former FAZ official and Lusaka Lawyer Anthony Kasolo have decrared their interests to stand.

On the Vice Presideny, former acting President(1996) and current ZAFCA General Secretary Simataa Simataa and National Assembly Chairman Yamba Yamba are likely to battle it out for postion.

In the outgoing FAZ Executive, it has been well documented that FAZ President Teddy Mulonga and Kalusha had a sour relations. And now we have a scenario that both Kalusha and Simataa might end up as the Boss and Vice respectively after March 29. This might bring the two gentlemen in the same Executive despite their sour relations.

Do you think Great Kalu and Simataa Simataa can work together?

A former FAZ official gave his views on the topic. "I do not think any of the three candidates is suitable for what they are vying for".
Of the three, I have known Kalusha for a longer time than I have known the other two. I have known him since he was a kid in Mufulira where I was born and brought up. I had very good relationships with Kalusha's late Father and his late brother Benjamin.

Kalu's contacts/connections as the reason for suitability for FAZ Presidency does not make sense....What did the contacts/relations with FIFA, CAF etc do to help Kalu in his FAZ VP role? Why has he had poor relationships with both Mulonga and Simataa?

Hanif may have been running Lusaka Dynamos but, the FAZ Presidency is higher and more difficult role. Having had dealings with him when I was FIFA Referee, FAZ Fixtures Secretary and finally as FAZ General Secretary I believe he lacks PR qualities.

Simataa: I worked with him as well when I was FAZ Fixtures Secretary and finally as FAZ General Secretary I believe he like Hanif lacks PR qualities. Simataa argues and differs with a lot of people over trivial issues.

Judgement: Kalusha and Simataa in my humble opinion can never ever work together. If by mistake they are both elected they will have problems from day 1.

Read the complete post at http://zambianfootball.blogspot.com/2008/02/fans-pesperctive-on-faz-elections.html