General Secretary Addresses   Chipopolo       before  Algerian  Encounter

The Footballers and Allied Workers Union of Zambia (FAWUZ) General Secretary, Linos Chalwe on 7th September, 2017 addressed the Zambia national team at Heroes Stadium prior to their two legged crucial encounters against Algeria in order to motivate the boys.

The Zambia technical team led by Chipolopolo Head Coach Wedson Nyirenda and assisted by of Aggrey Chiyangi, Beston Chambeshi, Stephen Mwansa invited the General Secretary to address the boys as the morale booster due to the negative climate that surrounded the team and the pressure from the fans following a number of losses by the senior national team.

The technical team were of the view that tactically the team was prepared but psychologically, they needed a lift from a different voice than the technical team from an organization that represents their interests and they thought the best person to help was a former national team player with experience and international exposure of playing such high profile games. The pep talk was all the more crucial  with the inclusion of  7 under 20  junior internationals  in the Senior National Team at such a crucial stage of the Russia 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifiers.

The General Secretary addressed the boys by emphasizing that the assembled group of players was a collection of youth and experience which is something the players themselves should be  proud of and take as an opportunity to shine not a challenge . He emphasized that they stood at the brink of history if they beat Algeria home  which will put  the team in a stronger position going into the Second Leg in Constantine Algeria.

He further stressed how at one point he stood on the opposite side while other people gave a pep talks similar to his but  the difference was that in his experience, the talks were  not ex internationals.

“The difference with my chat with you to day  is to that i stand before your as one of you, from your players Union and also as a person that has been where you are now and based on the experiences and knowledge i acquired  through the many years of playing in matches like your present engagement this weekend. My  advice and motivation  is practical  and not theory”, he said.

“Lads your key to success on Saturday and your careers going forward is centered on many important principles but I will mention the most important issue of working as a team  and supporting each other whether you are in starting line up or not. Each time you wear the national team jersey or your club jersey you should be ready to give over 100% because this is your God given talent and job which you love and enjoy. Learn to respect each other as teammates and brothers you should be willingly to make sacrifices on the field for each other by supporting each other even if you are competing for positions and by  so doing, your team spirit will grow. You should  remember  the old adage ,divided we fall but together we are strong and can conquer”, he added.

He told the players that Football is a sport that can be very cruel to players and coaches because we are judged on results so for you young men if you decide today that you will beat Algeria home and away, which  he was confident they could,  through hard work, togetherness and discipline. He further advised them that every game just like ideas starts in the mind, so if they played  the game in their minds before they actually play the physical one, then 70% of the job is done because your mind will be ready to drive your body.  

In his closing remarks, he introduced FAWUZ as an organisation by the Players for the Players and emphasized that time will come some  of  them, after your playing careers,  will take take up roles in the Union to champion this noble cause. They will someday stand before another groups of players at club level and National level to share their experiences as well as encourage them so they don’t make mistakes

This is not the first time that the FAWUZ General Secretary has addressed a Zambian national team. The highly successful Under 20 national team were also addressed before and after the World Cup and the current Assistant National Team Coach, Beston Chambeshi who was the Head of the Under 20 saw the impact the GS’s pep talk had on the inexperienced boys.