Kabila steps down as Nkana President
By Aaron Mubanga Jnr | June 19, 2020
Nkana Football Club President, Evaristo Kabila has stepped down from his post, The Club’s sponsors have announced. Nkana’s sponsors Mopani Copper Mines confirmed the development in a press statement made available to the ZamFoot Crew.
Kabila who is also the Engineering Business Unit Manager at Mopani has been at the helm of the twelve-time Super League Champions for five years having been seconded to head the Executive Committee of Nkana FC in 2015. Mopani has elevated Vice President Joseph Silwimba as the new President of the Wusakile based outfit.
New Nkana President, Joseph Silwimba
The decision has come barely two months after the fans petitioned Mopani to remove Kabila from his position due to unpleasant reports of mismanagement.
Kabila and his executive in turn decided to dissolve all fans committees with the exception of choir groups but in the last few days, the two parties were reported to have reconciled.
Mopani Copper Mines Plc has today announced the stepping down of Evaristo Kabila from the position of President of Nkana Football Club and appointed Engineering Projects Superintendent, Joseph Silwamba, to take over.
“Mopani Copper Mines Plc Acting Chief Executive Officer, Charles Sakanya, confirmed Kabila’s resignation and announced that Joseph Silwamba, the Vice President of Nkana FC, will take over as President from July 1, 2020.”
During Kabila’s five-year tenure Nkana FC finished second in the 2018 Super League season and went on to reach the Quarter Finals of the CAF Confederations Cup. They also won the 2018 Barclays Cup (now renamed ABSA Cup) and the Zoom Ndhlobvu Charity Shield for two years on the bounce (2018 and 2019).
It is also during Kabila’s reign that Nkana FC established the Nkana youth academy (Young Nkana) currently playing in Division 3 and has continued to produce young talented players such as Moses Nyondo, Harrison Chisala, Justin Mwanza, Oliver Lumbiya and Patrick Gondwe.
Silwamba, on the other hand, has been part of the Nkana FC Executive since 2012, has in the past headed Diggers Rugby Club on three occasions (2004, 2005 and 2008), served as Vice President of the Zambia Rugby Union (2012) and National Sports Council Board member (2013-2017).