KALUSHA: NIGERIA IS OUR BIGGEST THREAT

Following the AFCON 2013 draws which pitched  his country alongside Nigeria, Burkina Faso and Ethiopia, the former Chipolopolo captain and current Zambia Football Federation President, Kalusha Bwalya finally opens  up to Complete Sports  Saturday’s  David Meshioye in an exclusive interview on the much anticipated clash and his team’s chances at the forthcoming African Cup of Nations finals in South Africa...



You came into football administration immediately after you hanged your boots and turned Zambian football into what soccer cynics refer  to as emerging giants of African football. Can you let our readers briefly into what you think have been the keys to success so far?

Well, I think it has to do with better understanding that is associated with Zambian football. When we started in 2003, I think we wanted to function in small strides and from coach and new administration. Incidentally, from the experience, we’ve had a lot of people working together. Our success came through good planning, a calm dispensation and consistency coupled with levelheadedness. Everyone just wanted to achieve something for the country. We also ensured that there are good coaches in place, and the players themselves are ready to work and that is important; these have been the keys to the success of Zambian football so far.

African football is regarded as  a risk market by so many corporate bodies and investors alike. How has Zambian FA  been able to attract sponsors in the face of tough global economic  recession? Do you think maladministration is responsible for the absence of Egypt and Cameroun for the second consecutive time?

Emmmm…….I think Zambia are the one to learn from Egypt and Cameroun. Cameroun has been to the World Cup just like Egypt who incidentally won the Africa Cup of Nations
in 2006, 2008 and 2010. I think we just have to learn from them and maintain our style of football. Zambia hit it’s peak in 2012 and we just have to maintain that
before we can begin to compare Zambia to the likes of Egypt and Cameroun. So far so good, we are happy to be African champions and also willing to learn from other
African countries. We will try and keep up the momentum and hopefully work hard and see how far we can go with the team.

Talking about the Zambian national team, they have Super Eagles of Nigeria, Burkina Faso  and Ethiopia to contend with. Don’t you think you have a tricky group here?

You know, I think it’s a tough group, I am not sure it’s all about revenge. 1994 is a long time and Kalusha Bwalya played that game just like some of my Nigerian friends too. If Kalusha is still playing right now, then we would have said it’s going to be a revenge match. But now we have the likes of Kalaba, Christopher Katongo  and Mwinee to play this time around. I don’t think Emmanuel Amunike, Oliseh and Amokachi will be playing this time around.

I think what Coach Herve Renard  is saying on revenge may be connected with the quarter- final exit at the 2010 African Cup of Nations in Lubango, Angola, where we lost by penalties. I think most of the players gave good accounts of themselves and may have complex problem. We still have about 70 percent of the players that featured in that game in 2010 around. After we lost to Nigeria on penalties in 2010, Zambia has gone on to win the Nations Cup on penalties, so we now have great confidence in taking penalties. I am sure if penalties come up in our next game against Nigeria, we can be sure Zambia will carry the day (General laughter).Nigeria is our biggest threat here while not underrating other teams in the group.

It is a 90 minute match; it is a match we hope we can give a very good account of ourselves in. It’s a second match, but it is important to go into our game against Ethiopia with less pressure. That is why the game against Nigeria is an important match knowing well it’s our second game. We will approach that game with all seriousness with the hope of picking ticket to the quarter-finals. Zambia will have to win.

How well do you know Stephen Keshi? Do you think the Nigeria manager has done well so far with his rebuilding process?

Stephen Keshi has done well with his team as far as I am concerned. He has been able to make the team qualify for the Nations Cup which in itself is a big achievement.
You may remember the Super Eagles of 94 and 96, since then, there has been a barren period with the national team; I mean the likes of Amokahi, Finidi and Jay Jay Okocha left the team. I think now, the team is gradually taking shape. Keshi has been there before, so he knows what it means to be in Africa Cup of Nations and take part in the World Cup.

He has the opportunity now to take Nigeria to greater heights. I think he will turn the team around if given enough time to work with the team. Keshi is my brother; we were together in Belgium and have always got along very well. I am sure he is also looking forward to this game. He will also want to go into that game with a chance of picking a quarter-final ticket.

The Nigeria Zambia clash will be tough one. It’s a dream come through meeting Nigeria again Soccer cynics feel the current Zambian squad lacks the hunger to win the Nations Cup back to back. This was evident with the way and manner the team qualified for  AFCON 2013 in a nail-biting penalty shoot-out against Uganda. What is your take on this?

Well, Nigeria is rebuilding while we are a team already. While Nigeria is rebuilding, Zambia are the African champions and that is good morale for us .Playing as champions demands lots of commitment. People rate you as champion on the street but it is up to you to go and defend the trophy. I think our team has been doing well  far, that champion stuff has come out and Zambia has been able to show that we can play any team and win well if we get our acts right. We are going to take the Nigeria match very serious.

You recently took a swipe at top African footballers playing abroad for their little or no commitment towards their national teams knowing well that CAF had to change the AFCON calendar to suit foreign based stars. What do you think is responsible for the unpatriotic attitude of African players?

Commitment has nothing to do with being super rich as a footballer; you will be heading toward the wrong direction if as a footballer you allow your wealth to override your level of patriotism. Naturally, African players are very proud. I have been into football all my life and even I saw this same attitude in some of the players who  featured before me. It is important for our players to be disciplined on and off the pitch.

My question is ; what is the potential of the African game? Why can’t African teams get to the semi-finals of the World Cup?

My feeling is that we have to be disciplined and committed. We want them to make us proud in Africa just as they do with their clubs in Europe. The world is waiting for Africa to take its place at the world level. We want to go to 2014 World Cup and do well; we need to ask this, what conclusions   can we draw from 2010 World Cup hosted by South Africa? We want more victories in 2014 World Cup in Brazil and we hope any team that qualifies does us proud.
We want the players to be committed and if we are committed, Africa will go ahead and do well in Brazil.

Can you stick out your neck on the teams that will make it to the last four of AFCON 2013?

I think all the teams stand a good chance. All the teams that qualified are strong enough. We just hope the best team wins and hopefully see our star shine and add glamour to the tournament. It is important all the countries raise their standards and I pray and hope we defend our trophy successfully.