FINDING OUR FEET IN THE ‘NEW NORMAL’

Kenyan international and ZESCO United defender David Owino Odhiambo is staring at a possible sixth Super League title, six-years since the former Gor Mahia player moved to Zambia.

Odhiambo has played a significant role in ZESCO United’s unparalleled success in the last two decades, contributing five local league titles and three Absa Cup Championships.

He was also part of the ZESCO United side that reached the CAF Champions League semi-finals and Confederation Cup quarter-finals in 2016 and 2017 respectively.

Odhiambo’s success at the club has largely rested on good work ethics. The Kenyan defender is a great stickler for time and a fervent hard worker on and off the pitch.

As ZESCO United attempts to claim their ninth Super League title, Odhiambo is less worried about the last remaining 10 games. His biggest nightmare is reaching his full fitness levels with only a handful of games to play.

The temporal suspension of the Zambian Super League following the outbreak of Coronavirus or COVID-19 has put many club’s especially players in an unexpected conundrum.

The Football Association of Zambia (FAZ) has taken radical measures including the suspension of official team training sessions as a way of protecting footballers from contracting the deadly global pandemic.

“It is a very difficult situation for us all because this is our profession and we love what we do. However, there is nothing we can do but to accept the situation and take good care of ourselves as we wait for the league to resume.”

Football players are expected to spend a minimum of eight weeks rest to recover from a long season of active football. The disruption of the league with only a few games to play is a new thing to players.

COVID-19 has presented a new phenomenon to players like Odhiambo whose training schedule has had to drastically change.

“In football, there is what we call reaching full training and match fitness. These two take a bit of time to be realised. It is very difficult if you don’t train for some time especially having played some football for a long period. Individually, I have to closely watch my weight because I easily gain.

I know some players don’t easily gain weight even if they don’t train for a while. However, the challenge is getting back to full fitness, which I feel we may not achieve in a short space of time.”

Like Odhiambo, Jacob Banda is staring at a possible ninth league title. Having spent 15-years at ZESCO United, the legendary club goalkeeper and captain will be hoping to add another medal to his remarkable trophy cabinet.

“It is a new situation for us all. What is important is to continue training individually and remaining disciplined. The technical bench has been giving us training programs that we have to execute individually.

It is not the same when you are training alone. However, few games are remaining as such we need to keep our feet on the ground and be prepared when the league resumes,” Banda said.

Unlike Odhambo and Banda, John Mark Makwata is the new kid of the block. The Kenyan goal assassin introduced himself to TeamYaziko faithfuls in style by bagging three goals in 5 games.

Having penned a three-year deal with the club in January 2020, Makwata is staring at a possible first league title. Unfortunately for the Kenyan striker, his goal-scoring fairy-tale has been halted by COVID-19.

“I am disappointed but we have no choice because corona has affected a lot of countries around the world. I have remained positive, but I feel bad because I was enjoying great form. I hope things will get back to normal soon

It will be a good feeling to win the league, especially that I joined the team during the midseason window. But I am working hard to ensure that I adapt to life at the club.”

COVID-19 has not only destabilized life on the pitch. Football administrators are spending a great deal of time trying to find ways of managing their teams in the ‘New Normal.’

Richard Mulenga is the man given the responsibility of steering ZESCO United to greater heights. Since assuming office in 2018, the club Chief Executive Officer(CEO), has thus far guided the club to its eighth league title and a sixth Absa Cup trophy.

In the wake of COVID-19, Mulenga and his team have had to put on hold numerous crucial activities.

“This is the ‘New Normal.’ Nobody planned or expected that our league was going to be temporarily stopped because of a disease. This sudden change has paralyzed the larger part of our operations as a club. Our scouting incoming players have been put on hold, negotiations for incoming players have also been put off.”

The club CEO also feels that COVID-19 has given the club some time to re-strategize on several  things.

“I am sure it is an unexpected relief on the part of players and technical staff. There is enough time to rest, recover from injuries, and fatigue especially that we didn’t have enough rest between the transitional league and the new season. There is also the expectation of reduced expenditure which is not quite a plus because these monies will be spent when the league restarts, but it has helped to improve the cash-flow,” Mulenga added.

Many will perhaps remember the year 2020 for the mega-deaths recorded from COVID-19 in a calendar year since the First and Second World War. However, to many footballers and football administrators, 2020 will perhaps be a great wake-up call on the need to plan adequately for any future unforeseen circumstances.

Author: Desmond Katongo