Chipolopolo Legend Kenneth ‘Bubble’ Matoli has expressed gratitude towards his appointment to the Football Association of Zambia (FAZ) National Team Technical Sub Committee.
Yesterday, FAZ appointed several officials to key positions in regards to the development of football, headlining the appointments is Matoli and Kalusha Bwalya, member and Vice President of the Sub Committee respectively.
Marking a significant overhaul, ever since Keith Mweemba was elected as FAZ President a few months ago.
However, the appointment of the duo has drawn appraise from many football enthusiasts who have longed for such legends to be apart of the decision-making process of football.
Speaking in an exclusive interview with the Zambian Business Times (ZBT), Malitoli echoed “Thanks to FAZ for the appointment and am looking forward to serving the country, and am looking forward to seeing the terms and conditions of this appointment.”
Matoli was part of the rebirth of the Chipolopolo after the demise of the 1993 team in the Gabon disaster. And during the 1994 Africa Cup – he scored a goal against Ivory Coast in the quarter final, although Zambia lost to Nigeria in the final.
He was the first Zambian to win the CAF Champions League, during his time with Esperance in 1996. Matoli played for the Chipolopolo from 1988 to 1999, making 88 appearances and scoring 19 goals in the process.
Commenting on the appointment, Football analyst Augustine Mwanza echoed that the appointment in good faith for the progress of football in the country.
“This appointment is not just Keith Mweemba but for the good of football development, Bubble Matoli is a legend, With the experience that he has had and the way he has travelled around Africa, he will bring a lot of experience, but modern-day football has evolved, it’s different from 20 years go, there are certain areas where he will also need to upgrade for him to be up to parity.”
Mwanza called on FAZ to recruit scouts for the grassroot, to be dotted around the country. And suggested that the Association must also onboard other former players and officials to part of the decision-making process.
