FAZ general secretary George Kasengele and committee member Pivoty Simwanza have been accused of being behind the printing of unauthentic Chipolopolo replica jerseys, a deal in which thousands of dollars were lost by the association.
But Kasengele says he did not make an individual decision on the replica jerseys as the deal was agreed on by the Football Association of Zambia executive committee.
In November last year, former FAZ treasurer Kelvin Mutafu disclosed corrupt activities at the football body where kit sponsorship with Nike was lost because an official illegally engaged a Chinese company to print the replica Chipolopolo jerseys without the consent of the sponsor.
Mutafu further revealed that there was a syndicate within FAZ that was benefiting from ticketing of Chipolopolo home games by supplying the black market, adding that the association turned down a named company that wanted to offer computerised ticketing system.
Mutafu, who resigned after making the revelations, said he would remain quiet and allow investigative wings to do their work.
And now sources have accused Simwanza and Kasengele of being behind the replica jersey scandal, as unauthentic Nike Chipolopolo jerseys printed in China flooded the former’s sports shops after Zambia lifted the Africa Cup in 2012, a move that sources say prompted the US sportswear company to cut ties with Football House.
According to a letter dated December 18, 2012 to Simwanza’s company, Just for Kicks, signed by Kasengele and obtained by The Post, Kasengele stated that Simwanza, who is now vying for the FAZ vice-presidency, had been given sole authority to print replicas close to the Nike jersey.
But the sources said Football House knows nothing about an agreement for such a deal. “The executive committee of the Football Association of Zambia at its meeting held on 14 December 2012, decided to give Just for Kicks on the request of Mr Pivoty Simwanza, the authority to reproduce and sell Nike replica jerseys,” Kasengele wrote to Bruce Manyongo of Just for Kicks.
But some FAZ executive committee members refuted the correspondence, saying it was the undertaking of Kasengele and Simwanza.
“This is a lie, we are not aware. This is just one of Kasengele’s illegalities and you know him and Simwanza are very close, but the bigger picture is that we never sat to agree to this. In any case, Pivoty is an interested party by virtue of being a committee member. If that was the case, any of us would have raised issues of conflict of interest which could have seen open bids to tender for the same,” said the sources.
But Kasengele insisted that the executive committee sat and agreed to allow Simwanza to print replicas. “I can confirm that the executive committee did give Mr Pivoty Simwanza rights to produce replica jerseys. That I can confirm. They agreed, it’s not me,” Kasengele said.
Asked why the deal was given to an interested party, he said: “There was no other competitor. Because he is an executive member, he brought up the issue himself saying ‘I deal in these things so I am seeking permission from the executive committee to continue producing these things because I have been in this business before but now I am in this committee and I want to bring this thing in the open’.” Kasengele further said the Nike deal had its own ‘natural’ death.
However, Simwanza, when contacted, answered the call but cut the line upon hearing the topic of discussion. When called again, his phone went unanswered. Meanwhile, other FAZ sources said the Anti-Corruption Commission should not ignore earlier calls for a thorough investigation of the association.
“The truth of the matter is that the whole administration of football in this country is full of corruption. This replica jersey thing is just a small part of the bigger things going on there. These people know very well where the problem is but most of them are benefitting from the corruption going on, no wonder there is a push to have the same people at the top for as long as they can,” said the sources.
“The fear is that once others take over, those who are against corruption, then the lid will be opened and you people will be shocked to know just what has been going on and the people behind all these things.”
[The Post]
awe kwena…..as old as they are shuwa!
Bamabala niba pompwe
Let those with proof come out in the open. Corruption started with FIFA then CAF and trickled to FAZ.
Nibakandilefye bafisala
Let the entire executive to pack tomorrow they have eaten a lot.
Its like mr mutafu has evidence of corruption at faz,but why is he failing to report them to the anti corruption comission or may be its just football politics from the other camp.those people with evidence please report them ant corruption comission don’t just talk for the sake of the voter during the AGM
Kalu supporters are much more like Donald Trump supporters, lowly educated and ignorance dominates them such that they choose to ignore facts and stick their heads in the sand in believing that just because Kalu was arguably the best player of our time that Zambia ever produced, he should therefore get a free pass to his corruption practices.Meanwhile, we the smart ones, judge a person based on results, and currently results leave a lot to be desired in his leadership, corruption is at the highest its ever been in Faz, and what’s more disheartening and painful is that the very person we all had high hopes of fixing what was wrong in Faz before, is the guy the is ripping us apart. Kalu you are a let down to everyone that looked up to you, but of course decency does not matter to you as long as you fill you pockets. I hope the right thing is done this weekend and that you Kalu and your corrupt friends are out of FAZ.
Hey hey, lets not get carried away. Unlike Trump, Kalu has had a pretty stellar record that includes winning AFCON and finally getting sponsors for the Local Football League.
However, I will agree on the idea that administration (not just Kalu) is pretty terrible at managing anything.
1. National team transportation
2. This Nike deal fiasco. Who in their right mind would start making replica jerseys without the consent of the manufacturer? To think that an execuative committee would do that. Kasengele just looks quite incompetent by even stating that. He is basically trying to share his incompetence with the rest of the executive. Lets not forget Pivoty who as an executive member can even ask for exclusive rights to do this kind of thing. This is clearly a conflict of interest.
Wow. I honestly don’t know if Kalu was involved in this, but he is surrounded by a group of people with whom I would never associate myself as a leader. This executive committee needs to be overhauled, and competent managers and a President with vision and the wherewithal to see their vision through. So tired of people like this, not just in Football House, but in State House, in Parliament and all over Africa.
That is right Positive thinking, this is what we keep talking about, but the reason why I likened the Kalu cadres to Trumps cadres is because the moment you call it as it is, they point accusing fingers on you, claiming that you are jealous or you simply hate him, forget that we we love him, but hates his corruption. But like you said, its not just Kalu, its the whole bunch of clowns at football house that needs to go and those that are already gone should not come back and act as though they were not part of this mess, Zambian are not stupid, atleast most. I wish I could say Kalu needs to be removed because he is surrounded by bad peanuts, but no, Kalu needs to be removed for his corruption practices from “Kaili Yali Ni Nkongole fye” to awarding his wife marketing contracts without any transparent bidding process that would let Zambia benefit when the best bidder with good tender is awarded the contract. Kalu gave all those contracts to his wife thereby technically awarding it to himself and his wife benefiting financially…that’s some dictator sh!t right there.
PF’s man, Kalu, has been quiet despite the storm brewing around him! hoping that silence would’nt help stock up the fires just b4 the saturday elections. Both r getting rich in the dark! Where’s Caf & Fifa. Govt forget! Ba Kolwe taba sekana fipato.
WAPYA MUZI
PF’s man,Kalu, is quiet thru out this sordid business in the hope that silence would’nt help Stock up the fires just b4 the election. There is resounding silence from Caf,Fifa. Govt?forget! Bakolwe taba sekana fipato
Let the ACC do its job and then we will pass judgement on kalu. There is an allegation that Kamanga misappropriated funds from sales of cement at Zambezi Portland but people choose to ignore that and zealously parade him as our saviour!
Let the law take its course if indeed Kalu and his team did something wrong!
Tulyemo.com yalashupako everywhere u turn to in Zed thrz corruption people hv become too greedy and the gap between the rich and the poor is like the gap between PSG and monaco in france ligue 1. Somethin has to change esspecially the faz constitution to 2 terms only for officers coz the longer u stay in the system the more susceptible u become 2 corruption. #jst gonna leave it rite here
failures will fail tomorrow at moba hotel
Amos, why do you always defend Kalu and his admin?
Natural justice dictates that a person is innocent until proven guilty!Its amazing how everyone would be singing about corruption on someone and yet nothing of substance has ever come out to convict him.I will be the first to disown him once all that is said about him is proven as true in a court of law.Its only fair to him! @Positive Thinking
Lets forget about justice and law. Let us focus on the story above, which basically has been heard from the horses mouth. There was serious incompetence and failure of process in what Kasengele has confessed to. Or should we wait for an investigation before we draw the conclusion that these people are exhibiting a low level of ability in executing their mandate?
How on earth does an executive agree to allow a fellow executive member to sell replica jerseys without the permission of the manufacturer? Are you going to defend that by saying lets wait for the investigation, when these things were clearly stated by Kasengele himself? I know I will not convince you that these people don’t know what they are doing, because you clearly will defend them.
That is very sad, because I too have defended Kalu in the past, but I have seen what good leadership looks like and I know we will never agree, but this is not good leadership. The silence is damning because a good FA President who understands the sentiments of fans would have come out and spoken up on solutions or ways forward, but Football house has become a rental property where the tenants may as well put up a wall fence and guard dogs because we have no idea what is happening in there.
The financial report has been presented and adopted.What does that tell you about some of these allegations?These stories that are reported out of context!The guy is telling you that the FAZ executive approved the printing of the same.The key issue is whether it is accounted for or not.If it accounted for in the report,then there is no need to create impressions that are neither here nor there.
There is no where in the constitution stating that fans are part of the FAZ executive.The guy elected implements his own vision that fits his strategy.If you don’t like it ,then vote him out!You don’t spend an entire term scandalizing him with tangible proof.The Sports Council even consulted lawyers to investigate allegations on tickets and other rumours,but nothing came out of it.In fact,they even commended FAZ for being one of the few sports associations that are really on top of things.ACC has been trying to fish out issues on the $80,000 but they have hit a brick wall because its nothing more than just smoke without fire.When RB refused to fund the National team’s trip to Mozambique in the AFCON 2012 qualifiers,this is the man who was ready to use his friends to fund the trip!He fought to keep the ship on trach at the time these same Kamanga guys using government machinery brought anarchy to the game.He single handedly told RB in his face at State House that he was not going to step down and they say the rest is history!The AFCON 2012 was GOD’s vindication of the man some people have failed to appreciate.
Amos Mumba, one last thing. Sitting there and throwing stones at Kamanga does not absolve Kalu and his admin for their wrong practices. Its like saying “well I know we’re pretty bad, but so is the guy.” That should never be the case.
Let me also make it clear that I do not nor will I ever support Kamanga. The man almost single handedly destroyed Zambian football by trying to create a parallel administration. People who seek power over the good of the sport are the most dangerous individuals you can ever place with responsibility to lead.