Elezo Libanda
Katima Mulilo, July 16 – Former Zambian President, Edgar Lungu, has highlighted the potential of football as a viable career path by renting a house from professional footballer Stoppila Sunzu, a prominent figure in the Zambian national team, Chipolopolo.
In honor of his enormous contributions to football over the previous four years, Lungu recently got a commendation award from the Footballers and Allied Workers Union of Zambia (FAWUZ) during a visit to his home.
Lungu received a merit award from FAWUZ in 2019 in recognition of his noteworthy contributions to Zambian football development and player welfare. At their mansion in Lusaka, Lungu and his wife, former first lady Esther, were solemnly presented with the accolade.
The prize was personally presented to the outgoing president by Linos Chalwe, a former Chipolopolo international and former general secretary of FAWUZ. In order to give the certificates to Lungu before they degraded, Chalwe said that they had been kept in the FAWUZ headquarters for a considerable amount of time.
“As the founder of FAWUZ, I felt it was appropriate to honor the former president for his services to Zambian football, particularly for his support of football players,” Chalwe said.
Chalwe further emphasized the importance of recognizing individuals while they are still alive, rather than waiting until after their passing, as is often the trend. He commended Lungu for his assistance in providing legal services to the families affected by the Gabon Air Disaster, demonstrating the former president’s commitment to supporting others in need.
Lungu expressed his thanks for the honor and thanked FAWUZ and its participants. He expressed his sincere gratitude and noted that this award was the highest distinction the union could give to an individual.
Lungu also took the opportunity to emphasize the significance of player welfare in football. “By renting a house from a footballer, I am demonstrating that football can provide a livelihood. Football has the potential to uplift lives,” he stated.
The gesture by former President Lungu serves as a powerful testament to the viability of football as a career option and highlights the importance of supporting and honoring those who contribute to its development.
