Immediate former Football Association of Zambia (FAZ) president Kalusha Bwalya has scoffed at media allegations linking his decision to quit the race for the FIFA Council Member to integrity issues.
Kalusha, Confederation of African Football (CAF) Executive Committee Member, yesterday dropped his bid to become the Anglophone grouping’s representative to the powerful FIFA body, citing need for “unity” and to focus on retaining his current seat at CAF.
Nonetheless, a section of the media in Zambia alleged the 1988 African Footballer of the Year failed FIFA integrity test mandatory for all aspirants, due to among others, impropriety during his reign at FAZ.
“The results of the integrity tests are not out, so how could I have failed it? Such reports are false. I have received no such notification,” King Kalu as he is fondly referred to told African Football journalist Osasu Obayiuwana.
But a highly-placed source at FAZ disclosed they have received a word to the contrary, through the FIFA grapevine.
“We were told he was unable to satisfactory answer questions put to him and so, he has failed the FIFA test, the source said.
FAZ do not have any documentary evidence to confirm Bwalya failed, as they have no letter confirming this, at the moment.
With Bwalya out of the scene, Ghana Football Association (GFA) president Kwesi Nyantakyi will battle it out with respectable former Tanzania Football Federation (TFF) boss Leodegar Tenga for the single slot.
The elections are just 12 days away in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia during the 39th Ordinary General Assembly of CAF.
