KALUSHA Bwalya says the decision to drop Christopher Katongo from the national team entirely lies with the Chipolopolo technical bench.
And Bwalya says Katongo has sacrificed a lot for Zambia and deserves respect and sympathy from all well-meaning soccer fans.
“Chris Katongo needs to move on from the camp debacle, recover and give more to football and the nation of Zambia. I feel sad for what happened to Chris because the Katongo I know is a disciplined soldier, a dedicated footballer and a good family man. He may have made a mistake here and there but like in a football match, you can get a yellow card and even a red card but you have to come back stronger afterwards,” said Bwalya in an interview.
The FAZ president added: “Katongo has given his life to Zambian football and so deserves respect. We cannot crucify such a man like sadists. He needs sympathy from all of us. But because he needs to be a good example, Chris [Katongo] needs to recoup himself and come back stronger.”
Katongo was sent away from the Chipolopolo camp that was preparing for the game against Niger on October 15, when he was alleged to have skipped camp and spent a night in his girlfriend’s room. There were also reports of a fallout with the technical bench and accusations of being a bad influence within the camp.
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Kalu is right bt its time chris retired from national duty. Let him concentrate on club football
Yes he is a human being and needs to be forgiven. Only sadists will want to crucify him for ever. Learn to forgive and let go.
He hasn’t called it quits yet and if he can prove he still has the energy, let him play as we need that experience at the top level. This applies to every other madala out there. The problem that arises is that the coaches forget about the young players in the offing needing game time. The madalas must also recognize the fact that they wont be getting 90mins anymore so shouldn’t boil when substituted.
Great Kalu you’re very right and we all agree with you but the fact still remains, Chris needs to concetrate more on his club football and his family. He’s a legent to Zambian football and its better he leaves the stage while the fans are clapping unlike you ba Kalu who retired after making us lose to Angola by missing a penalty.. Let’s give chance to hungry new blood..
Nakatemwa
Chris will always be our hero, like all players, coaches and staff who worked hard to win the Africa Cup in 2012. No one will ever erase that, even soccer fans not yet born will know and read about Chris in future. And yes, we have to forgive and move on because we all make mistakes.
The only thing we are concerned about as fans is the performance of the team. From the time our players won the Africa Cup, it seems most of them have no ambition at all. Soccer is a game of results. Look at the performance of the team from 2012 to now. Based on results we have seen, can we say we are progressing? Forget about the COSAFA cup which is for local players. In the past two years, our Africa cup winning players have underperformed except for a few. One of the reasons why our team is struggling today is because we have still kept players in the team just because they were part of the 2012 team. And it seems the coaches fear to leave these players out. For Chris, he should not intimidate young players like we have read and he should not expect to play each game even when his performance has gone down. Players should be in the team based on performance. We have some local players performing well, why not give them a chance? For as long as we keep playing the ‘madalas’, we shall not move forward.
Kalu is saying so because Chris comes from mufulira together with him by the way let’s hope he knows that he is next for the chop. We are tired of his selfishness he has killed Zambian football for a long time now its time he also goes. Some will argue with me that he brought AFCON 2012 to Zambia but I for one don’t give credit to him I give it to the former republican president R Banda who personally controlled FAZ and was the one who was billing most of the national team budgets including sourcing Renard’s salary ask the same Renard will tell you
Thats what it is when you feel like you own the team. Chris has done a lot but he should accept that he has grown up now.
Kez Kez !! You are more than right, Rupiah Banda is the man who brought the AFCON in zambia. Kalu was not like this under Banda,but now he is doing all sorts of things that leads to the fall of football in Zambia but no one dares to challenge him. He is very comfortable and does anything he wants to do in his interest.
kalu is right
Well said Kalu,players like Chris need to start thinking of the second level of football and that is becoming a coach . Chris has seen it all n why not start thinking of building a coache’s resume when the sun is still shinning?
Kalu is right. Personally I will always respect Chris Katongo. Though of late Chris had become a bad influence on the young upcoming players. He had grown bigger than the game. The only guy who could challenge him in the team was Kennedy Mweene. I still wonder why Kennedy was not given the arm band when Chris was not playing? I have my own assumptions…..?
John Terry was demoted from captain for sleeping with a teammates girlfriend but he was never dropped from the national team. Janza consider him for the next game against Mozambique.
John Terry plays for the one of the best clubs in world ! Comparing Chris to Terry I see not to be a balanced equation ! Let him think about how to become our national team coach not as a player ASAP
Issues of chris katongo I think kalu is right but the problem is with katonga. He should learn to respect and sppreciate up coming young players. I think time hsas come for hime to stop playing for the national duties.
I do not and will never support a player who behaves like Chris did. A captain has to lead by example period
Yes Chris desrves respect! Allot of the public think that Chris was jealous of Evans Kangwa after what he said but allot of people didnt take time to understand what Chris said because it was right and just the point Chris made.
Chris is a warrior and will fight tooth and nail for his team, Zambia and even his own position and that is what has made him. He has led Zambia for years now and even now that is what he is doing when he was out spoken. Yes he has been wrong perhaps in this case but note that Chris was not the only one criticizing Janza, and his reaction after the 2013 afcon performance – but give Chris respect is only doing what he knows.
Chris led on the field but he has to realise that he cant do that for much longer so he is going to have to use his ability without always being on the ball more now. That may not be easy.
I hope his contribution to can still be strong and he can eventually retire from play gracefuly when the time comes.
The warrior Chris Katongo.
Time to retire big boss !!!!
Its a mistake to let katongo leave at this stage, we shouldn’t be carried away with 3-0 to Niger.I feel, he still has a lot to offer and he is still young. How many years did Kalu, Miller,Eto’o, Melu, Gerald, Terry and many more.In even Mbesuma is needed the Squad for Mozambique.
Let us not cheat ourselves, football is a physical and letting Katongo go will mean going backwards.Iam not saying, he should be there forever but with time.
@Why can’t he shoot from there. John Terry was busy “shooting” Wayne Bridges girlfriend at his personal times. Not when the English National team was in camp preparing for serious matches. Chris had this girl in his room before a crucial encounter. Though I’m not sure how true this girl issue is.
For me the main issue is Chris behaviour with other players and not the alleged girl scandal. It goes beyond Evans Kangwa.
We shall welcome him with open hands, let him just apologise to the coach behind the prying eyes of the camera’s. Bonse twaliponta. We have all sinned.