• FOOTBALL Association of Zambia president Kalusha Bwalya (right) lays a wreath on Simukonda’s grave in Chingola yesterday.

By Ndinawe Simpelwe –

A sombre mood gripped the town of Chingola as multitudes of people paid their last respects to late coach Fighton Simukonda who was put to rest at Chingola Central Cemetery yesterday.
And information Minister Chishimba Kambwili has asked Konkola Copper Mines (KCM) to honour their pledge of treating Simukonda as a full time employee of the company.
As Simukonda’s body arrived at Nchanga Stadium from the mortuary around 09:30 hours, hundreds of Chingola residents from all walks of life had already gathered to be part of the funeral procession of their departed son who had touched many lives in the town with his humility and dedication to football.
FAZ president Kalusha Bwalya, who himself is mourning the death of his sister, was among the people at the stadium together with his vice-president Boniface Mwamelo and other FAZ officials.
Others included FAZ presidential aspiring candidate Andrew Kamanga, vice-president aspiring candidates Mofya Chisala and Richard Kazala, former FAZ vice-president Emmanuel Munaile, active and non-active coaches, retired players and ZASPOFA president Peter Makembo.
Granddaughter Agnes was the first to speak as she described how jovial her grandfather was.
“You were the best grandfather in the world and you always put a smile on my face with your jokes. I still can’t believe you are gone. I will always miss you,” Agnes said.
Next was the tribute from the daughters read by Simukonda’s nephew, Bradley Chibuye, who said death had robbed them of the pillar of the family and cannot be replaced.
Widow Vivian in her tribute said she was privileged to have had the chance to share a life with a wonderful man like Simukonda.
She said his love and care will forever be remembered adding that everything he taught her will always be remembered.
KCM Director of Corporate Affairs Howard Chilundika, who spoke on behalf of the chief executive officer Steven Din, said Simukonda had brought stability at Nchanga Rangers.
He said when Nchanga Rangers went out in search of a coach, they had to find the best there was and no one could fit the bill better than Simukonda.
He said because of his services, Simukonda was considered as one of the full time employee of KCM.
“Moving forward, the best way to honour Fighton is by winning the Super League. It will not be easy but that is not to say it cannot be achieved,” Chilundika said.
“It will be difficult to find a replacement for Fighton because coaches of his calibre are rare to find.”
Zambia Football Coaches Association acting chairperson Danny Kabwe implored national team players and the technical bench to fulfil Simukonda’s dream of qualifying to the World Cup.
And FAZ president Kalusha Bwalya was too emotional to deliver his speech but allowed committee member Happie Munkondya to speak on behalf of the association.
Munkondya said Simukonda’s death had left the association in deep shock.
He said death had continued to rob the football family of great coaches having lost Dickson Ngwenya last month.
Munkondya also revealed that FAZ asked Simukonda to take a rest after returning from the Senegal Under-23 tournament because the association noticed that the coach was not well.
“Whilst in Senegal where we went for the Under-23 championship, we noticed that our colleague was challenged in one way or the other. And when he returned we asked him to take a rest so that he could recuperate properly.
“These are details we don’t want to divulge in public domain,” Munkondya said.
Meanwhile, Kambwili told KCM to give Simukonda his full entitlement as an employee of the mines according to their earlier promise.
“Namusosa pachintu bwingi ati (you have said publicly that) you will treat Fighton as a full time employee. Nama conditions yonse yabe aya full time,” Kambwili said.
(You have stated publicly here that you will treat Fighton as a full time employee and should receive all entitlements that a full time employee gets)
“Nshilefwaya ukumfwa ati naba Kambwili baliishile, filya Chibesa ayimba ati ba boss bakwe baima naka lufumo, elyo mwayamba ukubepa ubufi. Elyo ichawama abachisa mukalanda from KCM bachikwata akalufumo.”
(I don’t want to hear that even Kambwili came, like Chibesa sang  “the boss with a potbelly stands up and starts lying”. The good thing is the man who spoke from KCM has a potbelly).
Kambwili who conveyed messages of condolences from President Edgar Lungu said Simukonda had left a family which needed to be taken care of.
He said Simukonda’s contribution to football in Zambia for 40 years was unmatched.