FORMER Football Association of Zambia (FAZ) president Kalusha Bwalya has called on the government to honour former soccer players and legends including those that have passed on.
Bwalya said Government and the nation at large should bring the soccer legends together and honour them for their contribution to the growth of football in Zambia.
He was speaking during the 20th memorial services for former and late national team Captain Jones Chilengi at Zamsure Sports complex who together with him played in the then famous KK Eleven.
Bwalya said that football brought people together hence the need not to marginalize anyone in football.
“We stand here today to celebrate the life of a legend , Jones Chilengi, I’m happy when I read about bringing former footballers together , to honor them because they’ve played their whole life in front of you,
“Some of us were privileged as we played until our late 30s,so I think this is a very big task to everybody who is listening like the Secretary to the cabinet. Sir, I think you have a big task in Zambia because football is for everybody and should be used to bring the people together,” he said
Bwalya praised Chilengi for having mentored him to always be the best during their time together in the national team.
And acting Secretary to the Cabinet Patrick Kangwa who was the guest of honor at the tournament pledged government’s support towards the Jones Chilengi Foundation which was launched during the same event.
Kangwa hailed Chilengi’s selfless spirit and called for unity and patriotism in football.
“In the time that JJ (Chilengi) played for the national team there were very little, allowances of aboutUS$5 or at most $20 but he and his compatriots did it out of patriotism,” Kangwa said.
At the function FAZ president Andrew Kamanga represented by his technical director Lyson Zulu.
The family of the late former national team Captain Jones Chilengi held a memorial football match at the Zamsure Sports Complex to mark the launch.
The match also marked the 20th memorial since the former Zamsure Thamanga coach and hard tackling defender passed on.
