So since my blog is MUSINGS OF AFRICA AND THE WORLD,
I
feel it is justice to speak out when an Africans achievement are not been recognized.
Like many Zambians I have
been waiting with bated breath to hear whether FIFA will address the UCAR
issue.
The debate which involves Godfrey “UCAR” Chitalu has hit
international media, blogs and even Pan African sites who have turned this into
a race issue.
The issue or should I say uproar started when Messi
apparently ‘broke’ the top scorer record set by Gerd Mueller's mark of 85 goals
from 1972.
Zambian and the world where then told by FAZ, Dennis Liwewe,
Sports analysts and Passionate soccer fans that Messis record was paltry
compared to UCARs outrageous, uninterrupted and herculean record of 107 goals
in all competitions in a single year.
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| UCAR THE GREAT |
It doesn’t matter that the Brazilians are trying to edge in
as well by Brazilian club Flamengo have claiming that retired superstar Zico scored 89 goals
over all competitions back in 1979: 81 coming with club, seven with country and
one more in a one-off match.
What would make the Brazilian's tally even more
incredible is that he was out with injury for two months of that year.
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| ZICO IS ALSO BEEN PUSHED FOR RECOGNITION BY BRAZIL |
Well Messi has now surpassed Zicos record yet the times run
out for him to beat UCARs incredible record. But why the hullaballoo about it and
only now after 40 years?
Godfrey “UCAR” Chitalu (October 22, 1947 – April 27, 1993)
was a Zambian footballer widely regarded by many as the greatest Zambian player
ever (yes we know some of you only know Kalusha Bwalya) holding the national
team goal-scoring record.
Nicknamed ‘Ucar’,
Chitalu was a forceful often temperamental target man who was Zambian
footballer of the year a record five times.
Like many retired great players then; UCAR took to coaching
but alas tragedy struck before his prowess could be tested off pitch.
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| With his second footballer of the year award |
He died with the National team in the infamous crash that
wiped away an entire nation’s dream of glory on April 27, 1993; the day when
the entire Zambia national team squad perished off the coast of Gabon.
According to a Press Release from the Kabwe Warriors
Football Club (KWFC) where UCAR had played his trade, FIFA had been aware of
UCARs record.
“For the record, it is not as though FIFA has been totally
unaware of Godfrey Chitalu’s record. In 1982, FIFA did award him, along with
other notable international stars, for his contribution to the promotion of the
world’s number one sport, at a ceremony held in France.”
The year Muller was crowned top scorer was the year UCAR
also shined yet his name was never mentioned.
Some Soccer analysts say
the blame should also go to us as a country for only deciding to climb on the
roof tops and shout now.
But it is no secret that our records are not that proper and
it is also not a secret that FIFA can be quite intimidating to a small country
whose leagues do not generate the big bucks.
As for the race card well as much as I would wish to plead
the Fifth Amendment (that of silence) it is probably better to affirm that the
race card is there.
Why else would pro African sites (even those in the west) be
angrily advocating for UCAR to be recognized besides FIFA knew about his
achievements.
And even if they did not they DO now, so give the man the
credit he deserves is that too much to ask?
African countries well at least African countries that are
predominantly English speaking have been speaking out making the issue a hott
topic in the International media.
But just once can we see some stronger action, some criticism,
some boycott something other than what is going on.
Football Association of Zambia (FAZ) President Kalusha
Bwalya has clout at FIFA yet he has remained noticeably quiet on the matter.
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| BWALYA WASNT ON THE PLANE WHEN HIS TEAM MATES DIED, HERE AT THEIR GRAVE SITE |
As the last of the breed of the 1993 squad he needs to
honour UCAR by speaking out, it is a matter of pride, a matter of truth and
honour.
There is absolutely no excuse that FIFA can give and in the
words of Dennis Liwewe
“What are they (FIFA) saying ?”
I think FIFA and CAF are doing themselves a disservice by remaining mute on this issue. I have waited for the explanation with bated breath but have had to let go as it seems the explanation is not forthcoming. Not that particularly I expect anything succinct from Blatter and friends but in the hope that they still retain a modicum of decency, enough to at the very least to acknowledge that they knew about Godfrey Chitalu's record. Of course they would then go into some detailed and nonsensical exegesis of a certain index for comparing leagues and eventually say Zambia's league is cannot be comparable to the European leagues.
ReplyDeleteWhat else do you expect from an organisation riddled with financial impropriety accusations, the sham that CAF has come to be and men in Blatter and Hayatou who have clearly outlived their usefulness. Look at the shambles of the Glo-CAF awards. I despair.