I don’t know who needs to hear this. But I will say it anyway. It appears to me like we are participating in international tournaments without purpose. Doing it because we must; kuvichitilamo, vini choke.
I say so because of the planning or lack of ahead of the showpieces. Either our teams are camping and training and playing friendlies secretly, or they are not doing it at all. We seem to be sending them off like stepchildren to a boarding school. And the results are showing.
I am tempted to believe that the new FAZ is deliberately doing so because it just inherited these teams from the much maligned Andrew Kamanga and, therefore, they are fruits of the poisoned tree. But that’s just my temptation. It is also possible that Keith is waiting to assert himself and his philosophy (if he has any) or he is at sea. Either way, his ship seems to be headed in the wrong direction, and he must find or borrow a campus to get back on course.
And speaking of courses, the FAZ Marketing team might need a course in marketing Zambian football, or at least the national team.
Yes, the times, they have changed. But that change must be to their advantage. Of late, it is becoming increasingly easier for a fat man to fit in his side chick’s Toyota Vitz than for a soccer fan to know what’s happening around our national teams.
Fixtures, players, tournaments, etc. Nothing. There’s no hype building up to the games. Previously, and i am not talking Kamanga previous, but previously, adverts and all manner of activity would be on all forms of media hyping matches. People would be planning to leave work early (what is uku doja in English?). Taverns would stock up and keep those intoxicating liquids chilled, our women who patronise these taverns would use extra soap in case the match required extra time. Vendors would bring out their fake orange and green merchandise to cash in as long as they had a Zambian flag. Motorists would blast their horns as they played their favourite Chipolopolo song at full blast.
Those who could not make it on time to watch the match on TV at home, would turn to the nearest shop or bar to take peek. Anything for Chipolopolo.
But these days, awe sure.
Yesterday, around 15hrs, I was in Lusaka CBD and walked from Freedom Way Northend all the way into Cha Cha Cha road down Southend and back. There was no soccer fever in the air. In fact, i only noticed through a shop window that Chipolopolo was playing. I could have noticed earlier if I was on phone, but we dont do that in Lusaka. We don’t play with phones in town. I entered the shop and found the match winding down to half time. I asked the guard about the match. His response was a non-chalant (i have always wanted to use this word😜) “0-0 mudala, elo no shot on goal” and went about his business. It was dead dry.
How did we get here? The PR team at FAZ does quite a decent job, but they can only do so much. There’s need for marketing to sell this product now before it becomes stale like yesterday’s news.
You see, sponsors rely on numbers and the excitement that comes with football. Once these begin to decline, you lose your negotiating power. They will take their money to the nearest marathon. Make it easy for sponsors to justify their spend on football.
The poor results and moribund marketing will cost Keith his presidency. I am just saying. He already stated that FAZ has no money. He needs a team to find that money and not rely on FIFA handouts or GRZ goodwill (this is a poisoned chalice, you have to be careful to drink from it). The coffers are currently dry and he is struggling. What will happen if he wakes up one day and finds the same coffers are gone?
Anyway, I just thought I should share this in my capacity as a Zambian football fan. My views do not reflect those of my church, my children or anything else I may be associated with. These are my personal views and I believe I am well protected by Article 20 of the Constitution of Zambia. If I have injured anyone, I apologise in advance🙏🏼.
– Author Unknown –
