. Kalusha

By FELIX MALUNGA –
ZAMBIAN football legend, Kalusha Bwalya has said the nation’s landscape is now fertile for sports growth 50 years after independence.
Kalusha said Zambian sport had achieved about 50 per cent of success in the last 50 years and that Government had now laid a foundation to enhance sports development.
In an interview in Lusaka yesterday after receiving a Special Golden Jubilee Medal at an investiture ceremony, the 1988 African Footballer-of-the-Year thanked President Michael Sata and his Government for giving the sports fraternity a platform to develop.
He said Zambian football had made some steady progress in the last 50 years with the winning of the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in 2012 capping the nation’s Golden Jubilee achievements.
The Football Association of Zambia (FAZ) president said the future of Zambian football looked bright and paid tribute to Sports Minister Chishimba Kambwili for his personal commitment in supporting the sport.
“We grateful to God that Zambia has reached 50 years. We thank President Michael Chilufya Sata and Government for giving us this platform as footballers to develop. Through our Sports Minister, Chishimba Kambwili, everything is going well. We’re in good space and our motto is to be victorious,” he said.
Kalusha said FAZ envisaged to achieve more in football in the next 10 years with the Zambian teams recording a lot of success on the international front.
He said Zambia’s name was echoeling around Africa as a football powerhouse and FAZ wanted to achieve more.
Kalusha wished the sports fraternity and Zambians the best during the Golden Jubilee celebrations.
Sports Council of Zambia (SCZ) vice-chairperson, Emmanuel Katebe appealed to the sports fraternity to reflect on the success and failures recorded in the last 50 years.
Katebe said there was need for all sports bodies in Zambia to refocus and come up with better ways of improving their respective disciplines and also avoid wrangles.
“As Sports Council, we are wishing the sports fraternity the best during the Golden Jubilee. Let’s appreciate and enjoy it peacefully. This should also enable us to reflect on where we are coming from and focus on our future,” he said in an interview in Ndola.