By Satish Sekar © Satish Sekar (May 25^th 2021)

Foundation

Football Association of Zambia (FAZ) President, Andrew Kamanga, has announced a major development in the treatment Zambia’s footballers can expect. FAZ will establish a Foundation which assist Zambian footballers in need. This will include those in poverty, the elderly, the disabled and those needing medical assistance.

It is long overdue. Among those in need are new Life Members, Ackim Musenge and Emmy Musonda. The award of Life Membership to Musenge, in particular, ends a baffling mystery. Few can doubt that the Former Chipolopolo captain and gifted coach deserves the recognition – the mystery is the time it took to recognise his extraordinary achievements.

Benevolent

The Foundation will be run by FAZ Assistant General Secretary, Joseph Chimpampwe. Sadly, many legends are no longer with us, but their legacy can and must be preserved and cherished. The Liberation Era Football Heroes who survive must be assisted rapidly.

The 14 newly appointed Life Members include Mufulira’s Frederic Kashimoto and Jani Simulambo. The excoriated former First Vice-President of the Confédération Africaine de Football (CAF) and President of the Ghana Football Association (GFA), Kwesi Nyantakyi admitted wrongdoing in January when his life ban was reduced to 15 years. But what of the good he did. Former Ghanaian and African great, Al-Hadj Ibrahim Sunday, quietly helped distribute food and medicines to former sportsmen and women in need. Fewer knew that the Endowment Project which organised this was Nyantakyi’s brainchild. Africa needs more of this.

EmpowerS Magazine Editor, Derek Miller, expressed delight at the news. “We have been fighting for this for years now,” he said.

“It is a magnificent step in the right direction. President Kamanga deserves great credit. We hope other African countries follow his lead and African football legends, especially the Liberation Footballers get the recognition they have earned and assistance they deserve.”