February 16, 2022

We have never been paid our 2012 AFCON Prize winning money says Chris Katongo

Former Chipolopolo Skipper Chris Katongo has confirmed that the players never received money from the African Cup of Nations prize money.

In an interview with Dj Showstar, the 2012 BBC African Footballer of the Year also revealed that the players didn’t receive anything from pledges both the government and corporate world made to them.

Contrary to a report that was released in parliament which stated about K1.5 billion [K1.5 million rebased] from the prize money was shared amongst the players, Katongo has refuted those claims.

Skipper Chris Katongo and his colleagues are wondering what went wrong ( FRANCK FIFE/AFP via Getty Images)

“Mr Speaker, in this regard, thereafter, K1.5 billion [K1.5 million rebased] has been budgeted to pay the technical bench and the players,” the Sports Minister Chishimba Kambwili told parliament in a ministrial statement.

”Each player will receive K48, 878, 000 [About K49, 000 rebased] once the players assemble.”

It is this K49, 000 that the players have been pursuing in the background for a decade but to no avail.

While Senegal were given $87, 000 plus plots in addition to the winning bonuses, the Chipolopolo Boys didn’t even get a road named after them (Photo by liewig christian/Corbis via Getty Images)

Against this background, the 2012 AFCON winning players have decided to come in the open and claim their money.

The players have comfirmed that they received their winning bonus from the government but they still are still owed the K49, 000 plus other emoluments.

“This will be in addition to the K300 million [K300, 000 rebased] that each player got from the government as a winning bonus.

Even up to now the boys are still praying and hoping that they will get their money (Photo credit should read ABDELHAK SENNA/AFP via Getty Images)

Zambia received US$1.5 million in instalments from CAF for winning the 2012 African Cup of Nations.

At the time of when the ministerial statement was being delivered to parliament, CAF had only paid US$1.2 million in USD 600, 000 instalments, leaving a balance of US$300,000.

“At the moment, FAZ has written to CAF so that the remainder of the money could be sent to Zambia,” Kambwili told Parliament.

Zambia’s Team : Front: Goal Keeper Kennedy Mweene, Back row: Defender Stoppila Sunzu, Defender Hichani Himoonde, Midfielder Nathan Sinkala,Defender Joseph Musonda, Striker Emmanuel Mayuka, Defender Davies Nkausu , Midfielder Isaac Chansa , Midfielder Chisamba Lungu, Midfielder Rainford Kalaba and Midfielder Christopher Katongo at the Group A match of the Africa Cup of Nations between Equatorial Guinea and Zambia in Malabo on January 29, 2012, at the Malabo stadium. Zambia won 1-0. AFP PHOTO / ALEXANDER JOE (Photo credit should read ALEXANDER JOE/AFP via Getty Images)

The awarding of the K1.5 billion [now K1.5 million] to the technical bench and players was seen as motivation and encourage them to qualify to the FIFA 2014 World Cup finals in Brazil.

“This has been decided in order for us to encourage the players to work hard, in future, and qualify the team to the 2014 World Cup.

“It is our sincere hope that the team will qualify to the 2014 World Cup tournament in Brazil, and God willing win the trophy.