By SHAPA WAKUNG’UMA –
WHEN little Mathews Punza stepped on the mat at a tender age of six, no one knew he would be the ‘greatest thing’ in the Judo history of the Zambia Police.
It is easy to rate Punza, who is a young police officer as one of the greatest judokas the police has ever had produced though veteran Stephen Kailo was a darling to watch.
The latter’s unstoppable ‘Uchimata’ otherwise known as the Inner Reaping Throw in Judo is still the talk of many judokas who had the privilege of watching Kailo perform.
Then there are names like Hitra Shakanungu? He was Stephen Kailo’s student and the king of Judo during his time.
However, I can say Punza outweighs all these great judokas for one reason – his excellent performance went beyond the borders of Zambia and Africa.
At first sight in 1996, Punza appeared to be just an ordinary boy who wanted to have fun with the rest of the children who turned up for Judo training in the then tiny training room at Lilayi Police College.
The author had just taken charge of the Judo Club as Coach/Player from Sub-Inspector Lungu, commonly known as Uncle Sam. The author took time to dig into the archives to appreciate the history which, incidentally, made him what he is today.
In 1978, a Catholic priest Fr Jude Mckenna persuaded Geoffrey Munalula, then commissioner of police, to incorporate a relay of judo experts from Japan under the auspices of the Japan International Corporation Agency (JICA).
At the core of this programme, which culminated into the sport being one of the most outstanding in terms of reaping silverware and enhancement of self-defence programmes in the Zambia Police Force which led to the construction of two Dojos (Judo Rooms) at Edwin Imboela and Kamfinsa.
Another name worth mentioning is that of veteran judoka Paul Luanga who did enough to lay the foundation of what has now become the most improved sport in the Zambia Police Service and the nation at large.
Luanga had spent several months in Japan learning the skills and tactics with his colleague John Mwalule Mtonga in the early 1980s. Luanga was the undisputed 71kgs star during his time and was a hero in Japan during his nine-month stint.
From 1977 to 1981 the tiny judo room at Edwin Imboela saw the birth of great judokas in the likes Henry Kaishe, Kailo and Francis Linosi, who later joined Zambia National Service, James Sibenge, James Ngoma, James and Layton Mafuta among others.
The pioneers of Zambia Police Judo Club represented Zambia at the Moscow Olympics in 1980. These were Aggrey Mukanga, Rex Chizoma from Kamfinsa, Donald Munakatesho from Mongu and Francis Mwanza from Chipata.
Munakatesho disappeared in thin air but later resurfaced on the scene in the early 1990s temporarily with the ancient ‘Nippon’ (Japanese) Judo but the author feels he (Munakatesho) may probably have gone with his wealth of wisdom.
He was the only one who could roll out the Black Belt Judo Syllabus from 1st to 6th DAN and yet he himself just ended up at 3rd DAN level.
The author’s mentor, Fr Mckenna once told him that Lilayi Judo Club was referred to as the Kodokan of Zambia in apparent reference to the Headquarters of Judo in Japan.
At the basis of all the great achievements lie certain individuals who sacrificed so much for the sport of Judo;
1. Aggrey Mukanga
He was the first Police Officer to become Chairman of the Zambia Judo  Association between the period 1978 to 1981. In 1980, he led the  Zambia National Team to the Olympics in Moscow with three of the team  members from the Police Force Munakatesho, Mwanza and Chizoma.
2. Paul Luanga
Others referred to him as a Japanese man in a “Black Skin”. A perfect  judoka and administrator whose influence to the development of the  sport in the Police Force came with not just the material support from  Japan in form of judo suits but also the infrastructure development
such as the dojos at Sikanze and Kamfinsa Police camps.
3. Spencer Mukubesa (Peter Singogo Judo Club)  He was the first Zambian to fight in the World Championship in 1983 in Moscow.
4. Stephen Kailo (Lilayi/Sikanze)
The most exposed judoka of all times. He globe trotted from one nation  to another In search of glory for Zambia. He was a unique judoka with  exceptional skill and talent.
5. Matildah Mwaba
She was the Chairperson for the Zambia Police Judo Club before  ascending to the Vice Presidency and eventually president of the  Zambia Judo Association (ZJA). Her marketing strategy was key to the  recognition and growth of the sport but she was also highly  influential in so many areas.
Individuals who excelled in the sport were motivated through her  direct influence and strategically engineered the appointment of  Winter Kabwiku, then Deputy Commissioner of Police in charge of  Administration, to the position of General Secretary of ZJA.
6. Alfred Foloko (2010 to date)
He came on board through the influence of the author’s long time  compatriot and friend in Judo, Moola Lipimile, who worked closely with  him at Emmasdale Police station.
Strange enough, Foloko hails from a Karate family but his passion for  Judo was evident when he single handedly wooed the business community  around Emmasdale to sponsor the national team during the Zone Six  Championships staged in Zimbabwe.
Zambia literally swept all the medals during a highly competitive  event. His love for the sport was soon going to pay as he was one of  those the author started paving way for to eventually take over the  running of Judo in the country.
He can walk with his head high because so many activities are on-going  right now such as the construction of a modern Dojo at the OYDC,  Zambia boasts of a silver medal at the Junior African Championships, A  bronze medal at the 2011 All Africa Games, A Bronze at the 2014
Commonwealth Games and several medals at regional level.
7. Francis Linosi – National Team Coach (Born and Bred in Lilayi).  Zambia has three Commonwealth Gold medals through Shapa Wakung’uma (2006 Northern Ireland and 2008 Mauritius), Mathews Punza (Northern  Ireland, 2006).
One Commonwealth Silver medal by Malama Mpilikisha in 2006, three  Commonwealth Bronze medals through Harvey Siwale and Amos Sikazwe in 2006 and Punza in 2008.
8. There were six Commonwealth Bronze medals via Hitra Shakanungu in Malta in 1994, and Shapa Wakung’uma (Canada, 2000)
9. Two All Africa Games Bronze medals (James Mafuta, – 1987, Nairobi /  Shapa Wakung’uma, Algers – 2007)
10. National Honours and Awards;
President’s Insignia for Meritorious Achievement (PIMA) was handed to  Shapa Wakung’uma in 2011.
Fr Jude Mckenna (President’s Medal of Honour – 2011); He epitomises  all achievements outlined above. He has had a hand in every one of the  great Judokas and is the reason for every single honour they pride  themselves in today.
Surely there is no record from any other sport in the country that  beat Judo in minting medals in the Commonwealth and All Africa Games  events since Independence.
COMMONWEALTH
GOLD; (3) Shapa Wakung’uma Lilayi (Z.P) 2006 N/Ireland, Mathews Punza  Sikanze(Z.P) 2006 N/Ireland, Shapa Wakung’uma Lilayi (Z.P) 2008 Mauritius
SILVER; (2) Layton Mafuta (Buffaloes) 1992 Wales, Malama Mpilikisha  Lilayi(Z.P) 2006 N/Ireland
BRONZE (9);Hitra Shakanungu, Sikanze(Z.P) 1994 Malta, Henry Mwenya  (Central Sports) 1998 Scotland, Shapa Wakung’uma Lilayi (Z.P) 2000 Canada, Amos Sikazwe Lilayi (Z.P) 2006 N/Ireland, Harvey Siwale Lilayi  (Z.P) 2006 N/Ireland, Boas Munyonga (Z.N.S) 2006 N/Ireland, Mathews Punza Sikanze (Z.P) 2008 Mauritius, Emmanuel Mafuta (Buffaloes) 2008  Mauritius, Boas Munyonga (Z.N.S) 2014 Scotland
ALL AFRICA GAMES
BRONZE (4) Mafuta James Lilayi (Z.P) 1987 Kenya, Hebert Pumulo  (Buffaloes) 1987 Kenya, Shapa Wakung’uma Lilayi (Z.P) 2007 Algeria,  Esther Sandu (ZNS) 2011 Mozambique
We can only wish the quartet that is primed to compete at the World  Judo Championships that begin tomorrow in Astana Kazakhstan to emulate  the achievements of veterans and maintain Zambia’s Judo record in the  top flight competitions.
(The author is a Director of Sports in the Zambia Police Service)
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