By MICHAEL MIYOBA
FOOTBALL icon Stophilla Sunzu has urged Zambians spreading false information about the family to respect their privacy through this agonising period.
In a statement, Sunzu said despite his family being subjected to embarrassing and unfair treatment, he and his brothers would forever remain proud of being one of the chosen few Zambians to have brought glory and put a smile on Zambians through their God-given football talent.
Sunzu has challenged Mr. Larry Mweetwa, who accused the 2012 AFCON hero to have been used to smuggle unknown items for the Patriotic Front to withdraw his allegations within 72 hours or risk being sued.
Sunzu said that at no time did he have any business dealings with the Patriotic Front, current or past, and linking any of his little investments which are borne out of hard work as a professional footballer in the last 15 years to politics is extremely disappointing.
Meanwhile, Sunzu who features for Shijiazhuang Ever Bright in China confirmed the raid by the Department of Immigration at his parents’ home in Chililabombwe.
“Since the day the news of this raid was made public, a series of false information about my family has been shared.
“We have opted not to publicly discuss this matter because we believe the authorities are carrying out their work professionally,” Sunzu said.
“I am, however, compelled to set the record straight to dispel the falsehoods being spread by individuals on a malicious campaign to discredit myself and family for reasons best known to themselves.”
Sunzu said it is shocking that the issue of his father Felix Sunzu Senior’s nationality is being questioned today, more than 30 years since he relocated to establish himself in Zambia, a country where his wife hailed.
Sunzu is also shocked that he is the only Zambian national team player being singled out for having parents of Congolese heritage when from time immemorial, Zambia has fielded many such players.
He said the events have broken the family especially his father who lost his wife three months ago and was accused of harbouring prohibited immigrants from the Democratic Republic of Congo.
“Everyone who travelled from the DRC to send off my mother who passed away on September 10, 2021 returned to their home within a week after burial,” Sunzu said.
“I have also been alerted to an audio recording purporting to be my father giving his side of the story regarding his immigration status. I wish to state that at no time has my father publicly discussed his unfortunate ordeal with the immigration officers.”
