FAZ President Andrew Kamanga revealed that his personal relationship with one time ally Simataa Simataa has ended.
The FAZ Chief has also said veteran journalists duo Augustine Mukoka and Kennedy Gondwe are also not in good books with him.
But the trio have hit back at the FAZ President.
Below is what Andrew Kamanga wrote.
“Augustine Mukoka, Kennedy Gondwe Gondwe and Mr Simaata havae decided to call time on our friendship. I may have failed to meet their expectations but I remain guided by the constitution.
I was not put in office to serve individuals but everyone involved in football.
Records are there to show that I nominated Mr Simaata as GS and I have no apologies for that decision. Regrettably the Exco decided on Mr Liwewe.
Gondwe, Mukoka and Simataa responds
Kennedy Gondwe said:
You may wish to know that one of the reasons for the so called fallout is that Andrew has departed from the promises on which he was elected and some of us would face him in private and on the phone countless times to remind him about that and being loyal to his people and not to serve individuals like he alleges.
You may also wish to know that we don’t rely on football to feed ourselves and pay bills, we have other activities that put food on the table. Alas, when we reminded Andrew on some of the sticking issues, he accused us of holding him to ransom, being disrespectful and lacking loyalty towards him. But according to what I know, loyalty is a two-way issue just like respect is and being told or reminded about the truth doesn’t amount to hold someone to ransom or being disloyal. And when friendship is one sided, in my view, that amounts to patronage and I personally hate patronizing people.
Most importantly, when lies, deceit, dishonesty and slander come in between friendships, that ceases to be friendship. Ultimately, the things we talk about here have been directly told to Andrew by some of us in the spirit of friendship but what we started getting was a combative and defensive approach so we let him be and started we talking to football instead and provide him with the checks and balances like we’ve done with people before him…
I have done so [calling] so many times lies have been told about me to him and by him to clarify matters.
And what makes matters worse, as you very well know, is that he has blocked me on his phone and asked me to block him—that I have obliged. But if he calls me, I’ll pick his call.
Unless he fed me, then I’d be worried about where my next meal will come from. But life has to go on and so should our football. This is not about him but the sport we love.
And most importantly, we’ll continue providing checks and balances. If he does something good, I’ll give him credit and if he doesn’t, we’ll say it as it is. That shouldn’t be mistaken for hating him, holding him to ransom or disrespecting him. If he respects me, I’ll reciprocate. If he doesn’t, he’ll get exactly that. Nothing more, nothing less. That’s who I am, unfortunately.
Augustine Mukoka then wrote…..
In responding to FAZ president Mr Andrew Kamanga, let me state that at no point did I ever apply for friendship and if calling him to do the right thing insofar as managing our game is concerned amounts to calling time on our friendship, there is very little I can do to change his perspective.
Yes, he was never elected to serve individuals and at no time have I asked him to serve me as an individual even when I know he is serving himself. Not for me to delve into that sphere for now. Our friendship, if we are to put it that way, was to advance and uphold fundamental governance principles in our game.
One of the most crucial part to Mr. Kamanga’s ascendancy was the need to show respect of the rules and regulation football has set out.
Article 3 of the FAZ constitution insulates all of us in football to freely participate in the politics of our country free of persecution. Mr. Kamanga has failed to uphold this part of the constitution on Dr. Magwende and is therefore in breach of the very constitution he claimed he will serve and protect. It’s this failure to uphold the constitution that all well meaning football followers should seek to correct.
There is a pile of complaints against the performance of the FAZ GS. He is like a brother to me & friend, but football and our country is bigger than anyone of us. His failures are not his own, but ours too. There is nothing Mr. Kamanga does not know about my views on football that I have shared publicly. All these views have been brought to his attention. Failure to make decisions is failure of leadership. The reasoning in his response could have been better.
Article 38 (3) of the FAZ constitution places responsibility squarely on the president when it comes to the office of the General Secretary. So trying shift blame to other ExCo members is not leadership. The president must carefully consult the statutes and/or ask his legal team to help him appreciate the guidance therein.
If seeking answers in relations to respecting statutes are expectations not met, I am afraid staying on the fence in the name of a friendship that is shrouded in gossip and hypocrisy has never been a part of me. I chose open rebuke or counsel.
And finally Simataa Simataa wrote:
I think it is important that people understand that I did not campaign for AK in order to be rewarded with a job… It was something AK himself offered me and which job, had it been given, I would have been happy to take up. For reasons already in the public domain, it went to somebody else. God knows I do not harbour an ounce of bitterness over issue nor have I begrudged the guy who got the job…but AK knew what he was getting when I campaigned for him…somebody committed to a cause bigger than the FAZ and greater than the position of GS … Zambian football… This is something that I have given the last 35 years of my life to, as a fan, coach, administrator, club proprietor and many other roles…In every role that I have been privileged to serve the game, I have always tried to give of my very best… Often I have been misunderstood and my motives questioned, especially when I have spoken out forcefully about football matters that I felt strongly about, which is often, but those who know me know that my involvement in footballfootball was always from sincere motives…And always, always, I have tried to stand up for football with the courage of my convictions…AK and anyone for that matter can expect no less and no more…I am no angel but I am not one who speaks with malice. I try to be loyal to my friends and fair to others. AK understands that more than many others.
Lastly I have not asked anyone to interpret my relationship with AK. So can I just ask that we please just leave this Simataa-Kamanga thing alone?
What is the FAZ president doing befriending journalists? Journalist temunobe!
we had said it that confusion will erupt with coming of some men in kamanga’s team. Mr kamanga take our advice seriously and time to read our comments
I won’t be surprised if this issue sparks up the glowing splint that is the accusations and name calling the great Kalusha was subjected to.
I new it.kamanga was just poni,being used by this simata, gondwe,and others to cause confusion to the administration of kalusha bwalya .I even stated earlier on this blog,that Zamfoot should be balanced!because the force pushing Kamanga to questionable decision was from these characters (simata and his associate).Simata lacks reasonableness, love,kindness, and empathy. He is even saying that the was part of the campaign to bring Kamanga in to power.In lupiah,banda regime simata orchestrated the confusion to remove kalusha using unconstitutional method. They even formed a parallel league and made Kamanga the president of that league.I even told my friend who hated kalusha, “I said, “time will tell”,There is nothing good with simata, if matters are done not according to what he wants.he is self-righteous.
I never liked the way Kamanga has been appointing this people. Now, it is clear that he was rewarding them for putting him in to power.I and my other colleagues , new this and we spoke strongly against such appointments, but people thought we were too hard on FAZ.They even labeled us as carders,for kalusha bwalya.
What’s the way forward?.Kamanga has done the right thing by disasociating himself from these enemies of football in our country.The majority of Zambians soccer lovers will appreciate your bold decision Of renouncing your allegiances to these guys.Never allow unscrupulous people to use you as a poni,in dirty,selfish schemes.Thats how kalu was”,and they hated him for that.Because you Ave done the same,they will hate and even kill you.But you should stand your ground,unshaken from these enemies of football. One thing to remember is that, you can’t please everyone ,but wise people will forgive you of your past mistakes and support you.Do the right thing and you will loose nothing.
They are all stupidy bring back kalu.
Interesting times at FAZ. Kamanga needs to stand firm and hold on to what is right. For me all this jibing is all about positions. Simataa has been known to stab other people in the back. The 3 gentlemen Simataa, Gondwe and Mukonka all are saying they not there for positions. But they all seem pissed off by not being allowed to serve in the Association. I dodnt understand where all this enmity is coming from then if all these people were friends.
Though Kamanga is having all these problems so early in his administration.
Simataa Musonda and gondwe please campaign for me as next faz president I can assure you of positions am sure this time around there won’t be any qualification hiccups as in the case of simataa
What is wrong with the gs?indeed we were called kalus bootlikers.but this kamanga is printing jerseys in China for our team
You all sound childish. All of you are yet to grow. Each one of you needs professional and wise guidance.
I meant: Simataa, Kamanga, Mukoka and Gondwe.
These three guys are no different from American mafias who pull the strings for every president that comes into power. They wan’t Kamanga to be their puppet. My advice to Kamanga is that, he must stand firm follow the constitution. As for Ponga Liwewe, he must pull up his socks in 2018 because he actually underperformed in the in 2017. There is even a general complaint from councilors that he does not pick up calls. WE ARE WATCHING FROM THE TERRACES.
THINGS FALL APART
It’s like we are watching an American movie. The title of the movie is,”thirteen, the conspiracy :betrayal comes with a price.”Simata and his fellow cowards called (the mongas) were operating undercover to overthrow the ruling administration, upon partially being successful, the truth comes to light.The staring is kamanga realising, he tries to expose the wicked schemes.His life is at risk, because these mongers are preparing to take him down and he is ready for them.here we go.lets watch as the movie unfolds.
Regardless of who we are in the eyes of God, I just want to say may peace rain in the house of football administration, and bring the glory of football in our nation once more, let’s stop fighting each other, but let’s put our brains together and drive the game of football into the better place of our generation present.
With the passion of football, I say “No” to criticization. And No to political language, in love of football.