. Kalu

By FELIX MALUNGA –
FORMER Football Association of Zambia (FAZ) committee member, Elijah ‘Shenko’ Chileshe has challenged those against incumbent Kalusha Bwalya’s leadership style to beat him through the ballot box and not in the media.
Chileshe said incessant attacks on Kalusha were not helping in building Zambian football and that those opposed to him should instead offer solutions and convince the councillors why they felt they were the best for the FAZ top job.
He said in an interview in Kitwe yesterday that Kalusha  did not go into FAZ by force but through the ballot box and those who wanted him out should follow the same process.
“This perpetual talk on Kalu is not taking our football anywhere. Let’s use the media to propagate what we want to do for Zambian football instead of preaching hatred. We should not waste time talking about Kalu everyday when himself doesn’t talk about us. Afterall, Kalusha didn’t go into FAZ by gun-point but through the ballot box,” he said.
Chileshe, a director at Division One North outfit, Mining Rangers, also stated that he was against the amendment of the FAZ constitution to limit the number of terms for the president, saying from the world governing body, FIFA to the continental authority, CAF there statutes had no restrictions.
He said a FAZ president should be allowed to contest as many times as possible if the councillors still believed the official was worthy the prolonged stay in office.
With the 2016 FAZ elections now about 10 months away, Kalusha has been on the spotlight with some of the football stakeholders accusing the 1988 African Footballer of the Year of allegedly trying to manipulate the constitution to become a life president.
But FAZ have vehemently parried the allegations and instead said the former Chipolopolo skipper would go for his last term next year before venturing into other football issues outside Football House.
Meanwhile, Kalusha has declared that he is game for any challenger to the top seat next year.
Kalusha will be seeking his third and last term in officce next year and Football House has promised to hold credible elections in accordance with the dictates of the FAZ constitution.
The Kalusha campaign team said it was geared for the 2016 elections and the current executive’s track record had done the necessary campaign.
FAZ committee member, Pivoty Simwanza said the Kalusha team was ready for the elections even today but would instead wait for next year when the current executive’s tenure of office would expire in line with the statutes.
Simwanza said the 2016 elections were expected to be competitive for all positions not only the presidency but the Kalusha team was optimistic of sweeping back into office.
He called for issue-based campaigns and avoid name-calling, saying all administrators should have the interests of football at heart.
The Ndola-based FAZ official said Football House would ensure free and fair elections and that all those who meet the benchmarks to contest for various positions were free to fight for the nine seats in the executive.
Simwanza also rebutted claims by football administrators, Henschel Chitembeya and Simataa Simataa that Kalusha had promised to retire in 2012, saying the FAZ chief never uttered such sentiments.
He challenged the duo to produce evidence to show that Kalusha indeed had made such a statement.
Simwanza reassured the Zambian football fraternity that Kalusha would stand by his word that 2016 would be his last to vie for the presidency.
“All doubting Thomases should believe that Kalu is leaving in 2020 and pursue other football related issues outside Football House. However, he will be available to offer advise if needed,” he added.