Blatter mourns Dennis Lota

By DIANA MUTAKAFIMBO
FIFA president Sepp Blatter is saddened by the death of former Zambia national soccer team striker Dennis ‘Chesa Mpama’ Lota.
Blatter in a letter to Football Association of Zambia (FAZ) president Kalusha Bwalya described Lota as a highly respected and much loved figure in Zambian football and a great servant of the game.
Lota, 40, an assistant coach at South African Premier Soccer League side Jomo Cosmos, died on Tuesday night in Johannesburg after a short illness.
“I would like to express my sympathy on hearing of the untimely loss of the former international player and Golden Boot winner Dennis Lota.
“Dennis was a highly respected and much loved figure in Zambian football as well as a great servant of the game, and will be sorely missed. Personally, and on behalf of the members of the international football community, I should be grateful if you could extend our deepest condolences to his family, friends and loved ones,” Blatter said.
And JULIET MAKASA and ROBINSON KUNDA reports that Zambia Air Force (ZAF) headquarters station commander Colonel Mike Katukula has described Red Arrows midfielder Chiwanki Lyainga as a disciplined and dedicated soldier.
Katukula said Lyainga was a focused person who had a bright future in ZAF.
Katukula said this in a speech read on his behalf by his representative Lieutenant Malama Bwalya during Lyainga’s burial at Mutumbi cemetery in Lusaka.
He said Lyainga’s death was not only a loss to his family but to ZAF and the nation at large.
Lyainga was stabbed to death in Lusaka’s Chawama on Monday.
Katukula also said Lyainga was a talented footballer, who contributed a lot to ZAF outfits Young and Red Arrows.
And Chieftainess Nkomeshya’s principal advisor John Lupuka said the family is saddened by Lyainga’s demise.
National Sports Council of Zambia chairman Mwamba Kalenga, FAZ vice-president Boniface Mwamelo, executive committee member Jeffrey Chipilingu and football administrators and players from various clubs among others attended the burial.