FAZ Muchinga Province Executive Committee member Collins Mukwala has called his Central Province counterpart Chisanga Pule (pictured above) a lunatic for seeking clarity on how the 13-member (add the illegal one to make 14) board would approach the Barcelona Legends versus Chipolopolo 2012 Africa Cup champions set for May 25, 2023
Mukwala made the unsavory remarks on the FAZ Executive Committee WhatsApp group on Saturday after Pule wondered why there was deafening silence from the soccer mother body on how it would participate in the social match aimed at marketing Zambia as a tourist destination.
The match is being organized by Kings of Africa Sport and the Ministry of Sport, Youth & Arts after FAZ, according to minister Elvis Nkandu, initially rebuffed the idea that has attracted some big names in global football including Ronaldinho and Kalusha Bwalya.
Yesterday, Pule asked the FAZ Executive Committee to provide guidance as to whether individual members on the board would be permitted to participate in the event considering what appeared to be an acrimonious environment between FAZ and the organizers.
Pule wrote, “Dear President, Veep, Women Representative and Fellow Executives,
“We have an elephant in the room regarding this legends games, I feel the posture taken as a group of not discussing the issue or being given guidance on what we will do, is making it difficult for us to know how to proceed going forward.
“As painful as it may be, we need to be guided on how we are going to proceed. It is imperative that we brainstorm the issue, we look at our options and decide on whether we are going to attend in FAZ capacity or individual capacity, furthermore we need to know what roles will be played.
“I say this because we will be in Lusaka on the 25th of May for the EUFA program. We need guidance on this matter. I submit.”
Mukwala responded to Pule wondering why the FAZ Executive Committee should allow the 2012 Africa Cup Champions to don the iconic Nike jersey they wore on the day of triumph in Libreville, Gabon.
“We should also allow them to start selling Nike jersey?” Mukwala asked.
Pule responded, “Have I said that Chair? We have not discussed anything or agreed on anything that is why I was seeking guidance here. Maybe you know what the way forward is when we have such a crisis before us. Our executive operates on the basis of collective responsibility if we have not discussed or agreed or resolved as an executive it is tricky to know how we proceed.”
But Mukwala did not take Pule’s response and retorted, “No chair, the biggest issue here is Nike and KoPa. No wonder I raised those two questions.”
Pule insisted that it was the mandate of the FAZ Executive Committee to weigh in on such a significant match rather than take a pedestrian approach but wondered whether Mukwala’s position reflected the position of the association or if it was a personal opinion.
After a back and forth, Mukwala told Pule that FAZ general secretary Iva Lengwe had given a position on the matter.
“Chair we have seen this [Lengwe’s statement] but still the issues have not been discussed and no position agreed and for me I feel we are still not guided as Executive neither have we been given an opportunity to explore the issues,” Pule explained.
But Mukwala insisted, “Bt chair the GS clearly articulated the matter. Wat more can we talk abt apart from the GS response?”
At this point, Pule said. “I think Chair you and me occupy the same position, I am being polite by even responding to your positions because i feel you are equally as blank on the matter as I am may be we wait for the executive meeting. Ordinarily you were supposed to wait for senior people to guide us unless you say you have more privileged information than all of us the (then) we can take your word or you have been guided before all of us then we can consider your positions. Other [otherwise] as an executive we are not.”
That statement appears to have rattled Mukwala, who prides himself as Zaire Army, and he responded, “Chair don’t include innocent people just deal with me, why would someone guide me alone? Why do u like making simple issues to look big? Awe chair no no no.”
Pule was not taking Mukwala’s statement and responded, “Chair there are 16 people in this group and you have found it fit to respond and be a guide to me. I can not reduce myself to be doing chi [cho] chise with you. Remain with your position and as I have said before please ignore my comments I will ignore yours. Nobody invited you to comment on my issue muka ndabeko fye.”
Now Mukwala grew livid and responded to Pule, “Chair u must be a lunatic. Something is wrong in your head take your madness ku central province.”
Pule thanked Mukwala for alleging he was a mad man.
FAZ Women’s Representative Colonel Priscilla Katoba weighed in on the conversation and cautioned members of the Executive Committee against the unsavory language.
Hours later, FAZ president Andrew Kamanga emerged on the group acknowledging Pule’s query and indicated he had been offline but was directing acting general secretary Iva Lengwe to include the Barcelona Legends as an agenda item in the next Executive Committee meeting set for May 20, 2023.
No other executive committee member, apart from Col. Katoba, weighed in on the less than professional language used especially by Mukwala.
Sources say Kamanga has allegedly also previously used uncouth language towards some ExCo members who have expressed divergent views describing them as “childish” or accused them of wanting to turn Football House into a “kindergarten”.
Kamanga, vice-president Mumba and the 14th member Kephas Katongo, who are among the elders and seniors of the group, did not address the language used by Mukwala who a few weeks ago called fellow Executive Committee members “snakes” before he deleted his message.
When confusion ensued about the interpretation of the revised rules of the Africa Cup Under-17 tournament last week, Mukwala accused CAF of wanting to dribble Zambia’s path to the quarterfinals.
However, the circumstances surrounding the under-17 outing exposed the Zambian delegation for failing to understand CAF
rules.
