By JOHN SAKALA
Aspiring Football Association of Zambia (FAZ) president Blackwell Siwale says the reconciliation path undertaken by the new Minister of Sport Emmanuel Mulenga is an equaliser in Zambian football.
Siwale told The Independent Observer that Zambian football has been in an hostile environment for far too long, leading to the poor performance of the national team.
Last week, the Minister undertook to reconcile Kalusha Bwalya and Andrew Kamanga who have not seen eye to eye, thereby affecting Zambian football both home and abroad.
Siwale has implored both Kalusha and Kamanga to be sincere and genuine in the process of reconciliation.
He advised the duo to put their personal differences aside and work for the good of Zambian football because Zambia was bigger than them.
“I appeal to all concerned fans, stakeholders and players to unite for the good of the game. To the councillors, we need to pull in one direction, hold hands and push for a united force that can succeed in any environment.
‘We need to focus on grassroots football development, qualification for Afcon and World Cup, amendment of FAZ constitution, coach recruitment and training, unifying the divided football family and above all training of referees,” he said.
He cited the example where both Kalusha and Kamanga wanted to contest the CAF seat and at the end of the day it was Zambia that ultimately lost representation.
Siwale said the idea of mistreating others to the point of expunging them from the football record was bad because both Kalusha and Kamanga had followers.
