Former FAZ Chairman Simataa Simataa has said Kalusha Bwalya will not get justice after the African football icon indicated that he will appeal his two year ban by the FIFA ethics committee.
Below is the statement from Simataa who was at the helm of FAZ in 1994
Kalu will not get justice:
PRESS STATEMENT
Following the two year global ban that has been meted out on Mr. Kalusha Bwalya by football’s mother body Fifa, a lot has been said. Some have linked me to the same.
This is particularly because in 2015, I wrote a letter to Fifa asking the federation to investigate Mr. Bwalya for having received $80,000 from Mr. Mohamed bin Hammam on behalf of the Football Association of Zambia (FAZ).
I have to say firstly with hindsight that I have no regrets for having written such a letter because the situation at the time demanded so.
Secondly, because of the nature of the revelations and allegations against Kalusha in the Bin Hammam case and Kalu’s status in African and Zambian football, there was, expectedly, a mixed reaction to my appeal to FIFA in local circles. I was abused by many and praised by others, including some involved now at FOOTBALL HOUSE.
For those that care to remember, soon after writing to Fifa, my letter fell aside in the corridors of the federation because the then Fifa president Mr. Sepp Blatter later met with different African FA presidents in South Africa who included the 30 suspected to be recipients of money from Mr Bin Hammam. After the meeting, FIFA no longer investigated them. FIFA rather became interested in the bigger fish.
Additionally, FIFA never replied or indicated any further direction after my letter. As far as I am concerned, the case closed.
This fact is further confirmed by Fifa, who in their statement announcing Mr Bwalya’s ban last Friday, stated:
“The investigation against Mr Bwalya was opened on 28 February 2017, and focused principally on benefits that Mr Bwalya had received from Mr Bin Hammam.”
Clearly, the ban on Mr Bwalya was not necessitated by my letter of 2015 but by Faz’s insistence or subsequent letters long after my initial letter to Fifa. This is confirmed by newspaper cuttings doing rounds where Mr Kamanga vowed he would ensure that FAZ got back the $80,000.
With that above explanation, I wish to state that Mr Bwalya’s ban is not a matter to celebrate about but rather a challenge to all of us to at all times remind ourselves of good corporate governance practises when entrusted with public office.
I empathise with Mr. Bwalya as a human being and family man. He is not only an icon of our football but his contribution to our sport will never be erased.
Against this background, my honest advice to him would not be to appeal his ban because he will not get any justice under the current Fifa administration—he is viewed as a sympathiser of the Blatter administration.
Ideally, the best advocates for Mr Bwalya justice are unfortunately the perpetrators of the current situation.
This pro Gianni Infantinio Fifa led executive would have been the best people to seek justice on Mr. Bwalya’s behalf.
I have no doubt Mr. Bwalya can bounce back after serving his ban; stronger and wiser.
Ends
Shedding crocodile tears. If this case in under appeal, are interested people supposed to comment on it?
It was expected that some one af FAZ had written to Fifa so that Kalu is investegated out of malice.
Over 30 FA presidents in Africa received gifts but why only only kalu.
Watch this space.
It was expected that someone at Faz wrote a letter to Fifa out of malice. Over 30 FA presidents received gifts but why only single out Kalu.
Did kalu request for money useing Faz letter heads ?
Did he say he will pay back or Faz will pay back?
This is out of malice your days at Faz are numbered.
Lol, so Simataa Snitched on Kalu? This is funny but good, we don’t like crooks to be misusing Zambia for their dubious benefits. Great Kalu should not have used Faz office on his corruption activities and that is what I have an issue with, not that he got money from those oil rich people. The fact that he used FAZ office to get the money and then goes on to lie that the money was taken and used on faz activities is what pisses me off and for that, I don’t feel sorry for him. Anyways good luck with his to clear his name out. I wish all his bootlickers would actually show up and support him by raising for funds to meet the fine he is supposed to pay, but then again most of you Zambians love someone when they are up, but when they need you, imwe bamuselela kwakaba bansanya you disappear.. like bedbugs…Mxxm
@ TC soccerman
What evidence do you have that he used Faz office ?
Those emails as published by uk paper and the post newspaper does not say that he used Faz office.
Even Fifa said that because he received a gift.
Its ilogical for someone at Faz to expect the gift to apear in Faz expenditure records.
If you read emails as published in papers kalu asked for money and said that he will pay back soon. He never said that faz will pay back
Why should fifa say it wasva gift.
Over 30 official got gifts but why only kalu
He said the money was for Faz and personal expenses…the share for Faz was never sent through to the association.. guilty as charged!
The fact remains he said he will pay back not faz.
Simataa is useless and a very jealous person,first he almost derailed Walter bwalya’s career and now he goes for King k.Useless pathetic man.
simata and soccerman celebrate it is your time but remember that which god has given you no one can take it away the same god who elevated kalu in football circles will see him through and we shall see where the jeolous and hatrate you have for him will take you.continue serving the devil one day you know his true colours