.JANZA

By KALUMIANA KALUMIANA and SHAMAOMA MUSONDA –

CHIPOLOPOLO coach Honour Janza and Football Association of Zambia (FAZ) president Kalusha Bwalya were allegedly involved in a frosty dressing room encounter during Sunday’s friendly against Rwanda at Heroes National Stadium in Lusaka.
According to sources familiar with the development, Janza did not hide his disappointment with Saturday’s announcement at the 2015 FAZ annual general meeting in Kabwe that Football House would seek a more qualified foreigner for the Chipolopolo job.
“It started at halftime when Janza snubbed Kalusha after giving his tactical talk to the boys. He (Janza) ignored Kalusha and walked straight back on the pitch for the second half.
“Traditionally Kalusha gives word of encouragement at halftime. What happens is the coach goes through the protocol of introducing him after he is done but this time Janza just ignored him,” the source said.
The source added that the scene was played out again at full time although this time Kalusha is alleged to have told other FAZ officials “Na mona” (He has seen me) as they waited to be introduced to the players.
“After the game, Janza sat alone in the dressing room sickbay when Kalusha came in with other officials and as protocol demands Janza is supposed to introduce the FAZ chief.
The situation was frosty but Janza reluctantly introduced Kalusha to the players but the situation was still very cold in the dressing room,” the source said.
Janza has been in interim charge of the Chipolopolo since August, 2014 when he took over from Patrice Beaumelle.
His record after eight months at the helm stands at five wins, five draws and three defeats while the win over Rwanda was Chipolopolo’s first in 2015 after two draws and as many losses.
Meanwhile, former FAZ president Simataa Simataa has expressed shock at the manner Kalusha publicly spoke about Janza’s contract, saying it spoke volumes about the quality of his employers.
Simataa said in an interview that never in Zambian football history had a matter concerning a coach been handled in such a manner.
He said coaches had come and gone and their jobs including contracts have never been discussed in public as the case was with Janza.
“It’s been very unfair treatment on Janza, it’s most unfortunate for him, I guess it explains the quality of his employers. He is still FAZ technical director and they way I know them (FAZ), they will now start trying to hound him out of that position too,” he said.
He said Janza needed to be treated better because he has been loyal and that telling him first about such matters would have showed one’s appreciation.
“Actually here is a classic, all the time I was banned, it was because I did not follow the correct procedure to air my views.
“Now that they have done it, Janza should take them to the Disciplinary Committee and then ban them for life,” he said.