A PERFECT START FOR MAKWATTA

There is nothing as special as making your debut at a big club and registering your name on the scoresheet on your first assignment.

This was the perfect start for former AFC Leopards striker, John Mark Makwata.

Before moving to ZESCO United, Makwata set the Kenyan league alight by scoring 12 goals in 10 matches.

It was such impressive stats that drew the attention of 8-time Zambian Super League Champions, ZESCO United to go for the nascent striker.

The Zambian Super league champions have grappled to find fine form in the FAZ/MTN Super league after their 10 match unbeaten run was halted by Nkana football club.

This was followed by a disappointing exit from the 2019/2020 CAF Champions League at group stage level.

ZESCO United has largely struggled in front of goal and an addition to the striking force was always going to make a huge difference.

It wasn’t shocking that after signing for ZESCO United, a few weeks ago, the budding striker was thrown in the thick of things when the champions faced Mufulira Wanderers in a crucial league tie played yesterday at Shinde stadium in Mufulira.

Makwata didn’t take long to show his scoring instincts when he latched on a fantastic cross from Mwila Phiri in the early minutes of the game only to see his header go off target.

In the second half, ZESCO United took the game to Wanderers with the intention of finding their first goal. Both Makwata and veteran striker, Winston Kalengo proved a great menace for Wanderers defenders.

A good interchange of passes between Were and Mwila Phiri saw the latter power through a great cross that was flicked into the back of the net by Kalengo, leaving Wanderers goalkeeper, Joshua Titima with no chance.

In the 89’ ZESCO United doubled the lead after a brilliant exchange of passes between Were and Makwata with the latter unlocking a powerful shot at close range to register his debut goal.

It was a dream debut goal for Makwata, that saw ZESCO United leave Mufulira with 3 crucial points in the bag.

Views from Makwata after his debut goal: “It wasn’t easy but I thank my teammates because they helped me a lot to settle in faster, including the technical bench. They made me to settle in the game too, especially that it was my first game.

It is sweet to score in my first game and I am grateful to my teammates because they made life easy for me. I only had three days of training with the rest of the team. It is an important result for us and for me personally because it gives me a lot of confidence. I want to work extra hard and help my team win a lot of games by scoring goals.”

The Gaffer’s (George Lwandamina) views on Makwata’s performance: “He is a good player and he has the intelligence of a striker especially that he knows where to run to which is good for a striker. He can hold on to the ball to wait for others to support him and he is strong in that aspect and he is always looking for the ball.”