EXPELLED FAZ Executive Committee Member, Blackwell Siwale, has accused Football Association of Zambia (FAZ) president, Andrew Kamanga, of having lied to the congress that he (Siwale) did not exculpate himself after he was accused of stealing funds belonging to the association.
The FAZ council expelled Siwale and then FAZ vice president Richard Kazala for allegedly pocketing K150 000 FAZ gate takings for the Zambia versus Nigeria game played on October 9, 2016 atLevy Mwanawasa Stadium in Ndola.
Speaking when he featured on Radio Christian Voice chat back programme, Siwale formerly Nchanga Rangers chairman, described the process of expelling him and Kazala as a sham.
Siwale said he wrote to FAZ rejecting the charges which were levelled against him and promised to exculpate himself after being heard by the congress. “Kamanga lied to the congress that I refused to exculpate myself. The council did not confirm my charges. How was I supposed to exculpate myself? That is why in my letter to president Kamanga after I was charged, I denied all the charges and promised to exculpate myself at the congress because I was waiting for the council to confirm the five charges which were levelled against me,” Siwale said.
Siwale accused Kamanga of having failed to manage football noting that Kamanga has focused on fighting people deemed to be former FAZ president, Kalusha Bwalya’s sympathisers instead of focusing on the growth of football in Zambia.
He vowed to challenge Kamanga for the FAZ presidency noting that he had failed to unite the local soccer governing body.
Siwale, said that he will contest for the FAZ presidency when he clears his name.
“I ‘am an ambitious person and once I clear my name with regard to the so-called missing money I will vie for the FAZ presidency with whoever is going to contest. “I don’t understand how FAZ is operating. Kamanga has failed to unite FAZ.
He has concentrated on fighting Kazala and I. He has continued to sideline people deemed to be Kalusha Bwalya’s followers. When Kamanga won I went to him to congratulate him and offered to work together for the growth of football in Zambia because it’s not about Kazala and Kamanga, it’s about the development of football in Zambia,” Siwale said.
He appealed to Kamanga to and embrace those willing to participate in the growth of football in Zambia.
When contacted, Kamanga told Daily Nation that he could not respond because he was in a meeting but did not call back by press time
[Daily Nation]
Too much perceived and real confusion
Siwale how do u contest the Faz Presidency when u are accused of pocketing gate takings collected from State House? Tell the country where the money is “banked”! That then will clear yo name to contest! Meantime show us the money boy! Its abt the cash man, simple.