Some wise man, Confucius to be precise, is famously quoted as having once said, ‘He who stops for every dog that barks will never complete his journey’. Indeed. How many times have we seen some people abandon potentially viable projects simply because of the inevitable teething problems?
Despite a chorus of protests from disappointed fans baying for his blood following Zambia’s dismal performance at the just-ended Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) finals in Equatorial Guinea, Chipolopolo national coach Honour Janza is undaunted.
He has declared he would not bow to public pressure.
“Zambian football is sick and needs medicine, people can say things about me but I am ready to receive all the insults and criticism as long as the future of the Chipolopolo is bright.
I believe in what we are doing as a technical bench, the restructuring process is very painful in any sector and it leaves many hurt because results are not immediate and others fail to understand the process until results are seen,” Janza said in an interview with Times of Zambia’s Sandra Mwila upon his return from West Africa.
These are words, I thought, that could only come from a visionary like ex-civil rights leader Dr Martin Luther King Jr – someone who knows what he is doing and has done his SWOT analysis correctly. So looking at what transpired before the team left for residential camp in South Africa, the status of the coach in terms of his contract with the Football Association of Zambia (FAZ) coupled with the fact that the boys arrived late and did not have enough time to settle down in humid West Africa for the tournament, most people would agree that coach Janza can not be held responsible for Zambia’s early exit from the competition.
Although Zambia has even slipped in both CAF and FIFA rakings, I believe Janza should be allowed to continue in his job because he has demonstrated that he has a mission, passion and vision for the Zambian national soccer team. The nation should rally behind him and his Chipolopolo squad that he plans to help transform into a more formidable side that will bring honour to the nation as the Ivorian Elephants have done this year.
Lest people forget, Zambia beat Ivory Coast to win the 2012 AFCON that was co-hosted by Gabon and Equatorial Guinea. It was our first in 50 years; so all is not lost yet.
This time around, skipper Yaya Toure and his boys finally won their second AFCON at the expense of fellow West Africans and four-time winners Ghana 9-8 on penalties in Bata – and their president Alassane Quattara joined in the “trumpeting” with generous bonuses for the triumphant Elephants.
Interestingly, it is former Chipolopolo mentor Herve Renard – who had piloted Zambia to her first ever AFCON victory in 2012 – who steered the Ivorians to their second AFCON success since 1992. According from to media reports from Abidjan, the Frenchman was invited to presidential palace to receive a bonus to the tune of $129,000 from President Quattara while his 23-man squad were each given a house worth $52,000 and cash in the same amount, sports minister Alain Lobognon was quoted as saying. The Ivorian Football Federation was given $429,000 with the technical and administrative staff sharing $520,000.
On top of that the Ivorian national team were also conferred with the highest order of knights of the National Order.
“Thanks to you, Ivory Coast is once more united. You managed to rebuild a strong team working as one towards one goal – winning and winning more. It’s a lesson in rallying people together,” President Qattara said.
The Ivorian soccer team have been seen as a uniting force in one of the world’s poorest countries, emerging from a decade of political and military strife.
There are many lessons that the Zambian team players can learn from the Ivoirians the most important one being the fact that from Independence in 1964 the national soccer team in particular, has always been a unifying force for the country’s 73 ethnic groups. It is for this reason that everyone complains or feels aggrieved when the Chipolopolo fail to deliver.
Similarly everyone rejoices when the national team, formerly known as the ‘KK XI’, triumphs, as it did three years ago when former captain Christopher Katongo and his boys lifted the Africa Cup that had been elusive since 1964 and presented it to the late President Michael Sata at State House in Lusaka.
The other important lesson for the players and administrators alike is that modern football, unlike before, is now big business. The professionally-inclined the opportunities are almost limitless, as FAZ president Kalusha Bwalya, who has had an opportunity to play soccer at the highest level in Europe and Mexico, Latin America, would testify.
Of course, there are many others who have followed in his footsteps and are currently plying their trade in various parts of the world, which is commendable. But the point is: How committed are they to the national cause? Are they prepared to ‘die a little’ for mother Zambia?
Ivorian goalkeeper demonstrated what ‘dying a little’ for your beloved country means during the recent tournament in Equatorial Guinea. He literary won the African Cup for his country single-handedly – by saving a penalty and scoring one that proved decisive.
The veteran goal minder revealed that he had done the Boniface ‘Chitapochimo’ Simutowe to help Ivory clinch the AFCON trophy. After his players Wilfried Bony and Juniro Tallo fluffed their opening spot-kicks and shootouts travelled to sudden death – at 8-8 – Barry said he theatrically fell to the ground ‘feigning’ injury for the third time.
Barry had realized it was the turn of the goalkeepers to take their kicks and he had to fund a way to emerge the hero. He succeeded by diving to his left to parry away Ghanaian keeper Razak Braimah’s kick before expertly converting to win the coveted trophy for the rampaging Elephants.
He is quoting as saying, “When I pulled, nothing happened in my head. I believed in God and me. It’s true I had cramps, but I was trying to exaggerate to destabilize (the Ghanaian goalkeeper).”
Barry was originally on the bench as a substitute to new TP Mazembe goalkeeper Sylvain Gbohou throughout the AFCON tournament, but was called in – and rose to the challenge – after Gbohou suffered an injury to his left knee in training on the eve of the grand finale that Equatorial Guineas hosted after Morocco withdrew due to Ibola disease outbreak in West Africa.
Though their hunt for a fifth AFCON triumph ended in failure the valiant Black Stars were received home as heroes by thousands of their chanting supporters and government officials in Accra, the Ghanaian capital.
As for Chipolopolo boys, coach Janza has summed up everything: the rebuilding exercise has just started and will the fullest support of everyone. Although some people would argue that yesterday’s answers have lost their relevance, the new generation of players and administrators cannot say they do not have experienced people to consult when need arises.
People like former FAZ president Tom Mtine, Ndola United chairman Dr Julius Sakala, Green Buffaloes founder General Kingsley Chinkuli, Zambia Olympic and Commonwealth Games Association (ZOCAGA) boss Patrick Chamunda and others too many to mention by name here, are still available.
It is indisputable, most would agree, that ‘experience is the best teacher’ and one hopes therefore that the young players, who made their rather nervy AFCON finals debut in Equatorial Guinean, learnt many valuables lessons from the three games they played against Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), Tunisia and Cape Verde Island so that Zambia will be able to redeem herself in the next AFCON and World Cup series that are soon to start.
Comments please sent emails to:alfredmulenga777@gmail.com