BY MICHAEL MIYOBA
FORMER Red Arrows coach and physical trainer of the national team at the 1996 AFCON finals Fred Nasilele has died.
Football Association of Zambia (FAZ) general secretary Adrian Kashalaconfirmed the news in a statement issued by the associations’ communications manager, Sydney Mungala.
Kashala said the association was saddened by the death of Nasilelewho died in the early hours of yesterday at Lusaka’s Maina Soko Military Hospital.
Kashala said Nasilele served the game diligently in various capacities over the years with stints at City of Lusaka where he was before he served as national team physical trainer at the 1996 Africa Cup of Nations where Zambia emerged third.
“The late Nasilele lived and breathed football. His legacy speaks for itself as he groomed various players during his time as coach for City of Lusaka, Red Arrows and Napsa Stars,” Kashala said.
Among his protégés at City of Lusaka are Rotson Kilambe, Mohammed Seedat, Aaron Lubunda, Francis Majaka and Kedrick Siame.
Nasilele also served as Director of Sports in the Zambia Air Force from 2001 to 2006 where he held the rank of captain.
He also served as Inspector of Schools in charge of Physical Education in schools and colleges at the Ministry of Education headquarters from 1989 to 2001.
Nasilele also left his footprints at Lundazi Secondary School and Chizongwe Technical Secondary School where he was a teacher of Geography and Physical Education from 1981-83 and 1984-88 respectively.
His longest stint as coach was at Red Arrows Football Club where he served in various capacities from 2002-2010 with the highlight being the 2004 league crown before he served as Napsa Stars physical trainer from 2011-2012.
