Immediate former Zesco United technical director Honour Janza has described his departure from the club as “shameful” after confirming the end of his second stint in the role at the club.
Re-appointed as technical director only last July, the 65-year old trainer was last week shown the exit door at Zesco following a mixed start to his tenure.
Speaking in an interview when he featured on ZNBC Radio 4’s Sports Day show this morning, Janza narrated how he was served with a letter of contract termination by the club leadership while away on CAF duty in Tanzania.
“Whilst in Tanzania I received a phone call from the head office by Senior Manager Kalililo and I was asked whether my WhatsApp number was working and saying he needed to send me some documents. It was strange to receive a phone call from that person but I could feel and tell something was happening. When he sent [the WhatsApp message] I opened and it was a confirmation or a letter of termination addressed to me. There were no reasons and I just acknowledged and said thank you so much,” Janza narrated.
“I think it is from that point that I should be able to confirm to the public, it shouldn’t be a rumour or speculation, it is now reality and coming from the horse’s mouth that I’m no longer with Zesco as from last week,” he added.
Janza, a UEFA Pro Coaching License holder and CAF coaching instructor, said he did not anticipate being shown the exit door just four months after his return to the club which was shameful given his experience and commitment in football.
“Looking at my status and loyalty to football development and the commitment that I have in football, it was not expected because it is just too early that barely about four or three months and I asked to step out,” he said.
He continued: “At my level I think it is shameful, it sometimes affects our reputation and my CV, it is not a good thing but these are authority people and I still appreciate them, they know better and the reason.”
He also described his return to Zesco for a second stint as technical director as ill-timed due to ongoing turbulence within the club hierarchy.
“I thought that we will run together as according to the way the call came but apparently I think I may have mistimed, maybe I came at a time when there was a bit of some disconnect within the board or the management,” he said.
Nonetheless, Janza expressed his appreciation to Zesco for having handed him the mantle to lead the club’s technical staff for the second time in his career.
“I respect authority and I always want to be a professional person. I don’t usually want to put things like a fight but just want to appreciate the same appreciation and trust that they saw in calling me because I received a call whilst I was in the UK,” he said.
Zesco are yet to officially announce the departure of Janza as well as CEO Ponga Liwewe who was also axed following the club’s progression to the pre-group stage round of the CAF Confederation Cup.
Wami Katanga
