By SANDRA MWILA
and RONALD CHAWE –
FOOTBALL Association of Zambia (FAZ) president Kalusha Bwalya has described the late Fighton Simukonda as an honest man who had love for budding talent.
Kalusha said he learnt of the death of Simukonda with a deep sense of sadness and shock.
“Big Fighton Simukonda was my teammate in the KK-II. He was as honest as they come. Disciplined, sincere and dedicated to football, a humble man as a player and coach. He always wanted the best for his team.
“He gave a lot of chances to especially young players because it was his nature to be patient. Big Figh is a big loss to Zambian football,” he said.
Kalusha said Simukonda’s name is engraved in the Zambian footballing Hall of Fame, starting from Mimbula FC, to a trophy-laden spells at Nkana to his time at Jomo Cosmos in South Africa.
Chipolopolo coach George ‘Chicken’ Lwandamina said the country has lost a gallant man who contributed a lot to the development of football both as a player and coach.
“Words can’t describe the loss, Simukonda was a gallant man, a son of the soil who had passion for the game. It is really a sad development, a dark cloud has befallen the nation and not only will Simukonda be missed by family but the entire football fraternity,” he said.
Zambia Football Coaches Association (ZAFCA) vice president Lewis Shambulo described Simukonda’s death as a big blow to the soccer fraternity. He said the football fraternity will greatly miss him as he saved the nation delinquently.
“I was shocked when I received the news this morning (yesterday). As ZAFCA, we are at a loss, we have lost an experienced coach. Fighton was polite, quite and dedicated to service,” Shambulo said.
Former teammate at Nkana, Beston Chambeshi said in an interview from Botswana that he was saddened with the death of Simukonda as he was a greater leader.
“Simukonda was a great leader, he had passion for the game. He contributed a lot both at club and national level and his death is a great loss. I am in Botswana and most coaches have received the news of his death with sadness,” Chambeshi said.
Kenneth ‘Bubble ‘Malitoli said he has lost a pillar in his life. Malitoli said Simukonda was like his elder brother who helped him develop as a player during their time at Nkana.
“I have lost a pillar in my life, Simukonda was a great man and we shall greatly miss him. Simukonda was like my elder brother, when I joined Nkana he was a senior player and he was of help a lot,” he said.
Zesco United general secretary Justin Mumba said the club received the death of their former coach with a heavy heart.
Mumba said the death of Simukonda has left a big gap in the Zambian football circles and that he worked hard at Zesco in the period he was at the club and to date his record has not been beaten by any coach which saw him reach the Champions League group stage in 2009.
Ndola District Coaches Association chairperson Tom Kunda described the death of Simukonda as painful and unbelievable.
Kunda said his association enjoyed working relationships with the late coach when he was Zesco coach.