By Shamaoma Musonda –
IN a dramatic turn of events at Woodlands Stadium, the City of Lusaka Executive and Board of Trustees have been dissolved and a transitional management team to be led by Simataa Simataa immediately put in place.
According to a letter signed by Christine Mulundika, who is the Board of Trustees, chairperson and Brian Kalunga,a member on the Trustees Board, the two warring bodies were declared redundant in accordance with the new club structure which was in line with the FAZ Club Licensing.
The letter explained in accordance with the restructuring process and after six months of deliberations, City of Lusaka football club would now operate under a company called City Of Lusaka football club (2000) PLC.
The letter also stated that the new company would now register the football club to FAZ under the PLC structure which was in compliance with the FIFA and FAZ requirements and that it had no room for an executive committee or a Board of Trustees.
“With the change, we will make the current positions held within the current club structure of City Executive Committee and City Trustees redundant. This redundancy is with immediate effect. These positions will not be elected and managed by City Yamoto football Club Limited,” the letter said.
Other members joining General Manager Simataa are, Kalunga as Administrative Secretary, Leenus Kaputa as the football club manager, Julius Sialuzu as the Accountant and Andrew Mushibwe.
But Club Secretary Christopher Chilongo dismissed the announced dissolution saying he was still in charge and a full statement of explanation to follow later.
He charged that Mulundika had no authority to make such a decision and that she did not have the powers she was claiming to have.
“Those decisions are ultra vires and declared null and void. That lady has been petitioned by the members and she needs to state how she is wielding those powers when she is the sole known member of the board of trustees,” he said.
Trouble has been brewing at City since development of a shopping Mall started with the team performing badly on the pitch which has led to suspensions and resignations in the executive and a tiff with the club sponsors Forli Limited.
When contacted, Forli Limited boss Diego Casilli referred all matters to Simataa who said the new structure and management team will now run the affairs of the club.
Simataa explained in other words, the management team (City Yamoto body) would replace the executive and board of Trustees in running the club affairs and would report to the City of Lusaka (2000) PLC Board.
He said the 200 PLC body was created in 2000 adding the Yamoto arrangement will also have a supporters body adding election would soon be called to put the bodies into motion.
He said the board will be composed of members from both the City Yamoto and Forli, depending on the shareholding and stated Forli holds 59 per cent shareholding, going by documents at Pacra.
He explained that when City let in Cavmont FMO in 2000, it gave away 59 per cent of the shares, which were in 2015 sold to Forli, and that 41 per cent of the shares remained and whose ownership was the value of the stadium and Club House.
He produced a Pacra shareholding document which stated that Cavmont FMO had 300, 000 shares, while a 100 shares each were owned by a list of about 10 individuals including Mulundika, Yuyi Lishomwa, Chifumu Banda and David Lewanika among others.