ZESCO United Football Club Team Ya Ziko
“My name is Chance Ndalama, ZESCO United Football Club Equipment Manager. My job is to ensure the players and staff have all their kits prepared and ready for training and match days. I arrive at work early in the morning to sort shirts, shorts, and put all the staff and players’ kit out. I also inflate footballs, get all the dirty kit and send it over to the laundry.”
It’s a no-brainer to imagine that an Equipment Manager (Kit Master) can affect the outcome of a football match, at least in the eyes of a soccer-fan.
From the perspective of every ardent soccer-fan whether one following Barcelona, Manchester United, ZESCO United, the difference between winning and losing rests on the shoulders of the Coach.
Equipment Managers are the least mentioned heroes in any football team because their work though crucial is often executed behind the scenes, closed to the public eye. They fall on the same page as Team Managers, Statisticians, Groundsmen, Chefs, Laundrymen, and women.
A close look at one of Zambia’s most successful football team in recent years, ZESCO United Football Club, reveals more than what meets the eye.
Chance Ndalama is the club’s Equipment Manager.43-year-old Ndalama who has held this position for over 15-years, has played a significant role in the emergence of the club into the country’s dominant football force and the continents emerging soccer giant.
“I joined ZESCO United in 2005 as Equipment Manager. It is a dream to work for one of the biggest teams in the country. I am very grateful for this opportunity because I have learned quite a lot along the way.”
Like most backroom staff whose names are never in the limelight whenever a team wins’ trophies, Ndalama is the silent kingmaker whose skills are only appreciated by those close to him at the club.
Ndalama’s job may seem easy at face value, but it is one of the most important aspects of the game which, if not carried out correctly, can affect the team’s performance. It can further lead to huge financial penalties if not executed according to regulations, especially during continental competitions.
In the week leading to the 2019/2020 CAF Champions League encounter between ZESCO United and five-times African champions, Zamalek, Ndalamas skills are put to the test.
His job begins with a rigorous training schedule prepared by Coach George Lwandamina: “My job starts with understanding the coach’s training program. Once the program is released I then have to provide the necessary equipment (Players kit, Match balls, Cones, Bibs) for the team for every particular training session. It’s crucial to be ahead of everyone so that they find everything well prepared. There is no room for time wasting because that could affect the entire program.”
Apart from meeting the coaches’ expectations during the period leading to match-day, Ndalama is expected to present the team’s official colors during the match-coordination meeting.
“It is my responsibility to ensure that the right colors of our jerseys are presented before the selected CAF officials managing a particular game. The colors I present should be similar to those presented to CAF before the beginning of the campaign. You need to be well prepared in case there is a clash in colors between the two sides. Remember it is a big offense to present the wrong kit colors during a technical meeting.”
On match-day, part of Ndalama’s job is to ensure that the dressing room for the team is prepared on time for capturing by the official broadcasters as prescribed by the CAF, with the correct jerseys designated on the right seats.
“I arrive at the stadium three hours before kick-off to sort shirts and shorts, and put all the staff and player’s kit out. I need to ensure that the dressing room is set up on time for broadcasters and players too. If I delay in setting up these things the outcome is a potential fine from tournament organizers. This may also disturb the players and the rest of the technical staff’s program.
Football is a sport where relationships matter significantly. Be it at the top of the food chain or bottom. The relationship between the coach and the board is as important as the relationship between the Equipment Manager and the players.
Ndalama understands this conundrum succinctly. For him, having a good relationship with players helps understand their characters and mind-sets. What they like and what they don’t.
“There are players whose performances on match-day could be affected by the Equipment Managers failure to satisfy their needs. For example, some players like to wear small-sized jerseys as opposed to large sizes. Failure to provide this may affect a player’s confidence ultimately disturb his output during the game. Players can be quite particular about certain things that may seem irrelevant to others. Those are things you should look out for because they can derail the team.”
Building a sound relationship with players is very crucial for the team. “Naturally there are things that players will be comfortable sharing with the Equipment Manager than with the head coach. It is important to keep that trust between them and yourself. It is also important that I inform the coach about anything that I feel may be a threat to us getting maximum points.”
Ndalama’s claims are highly supported by former U-20 and National Team Equipment Manager Goodson Mboozi.
Mboozi has worked at the highest level of the game. He was Zambia National Team Equipment Manager when the country won the 2017 U-20 Africa Cup of Nations and qualified to the 2017 FIFA U-20 World Cup where Zambia reached the quarter-finals.
“The responsibilities of an Equipment Manager are as important as anybody who sits on that technical bench. We win as a team and lose as a team. That is the more reason we invest so much in our roles because we know that the outcome of the match will be dictated by our level of input.”
Mboozi remembers an incident in a Zambia vs Malawi game which was played under extreme wet conditions. At half-time, Zambia’s top man Patson Daka’s number 20 jersey was soaked and required to be changed. Unfortunately, the team didn’t have an extra piece.
“When the players trooped to the dressing room at halftime, Daka’s jersey was too wet but we didn’t have an extra top for him. I had to wring the shirt to try and dry it out. Upon seeing that, the boy instructed me to stop what I was doing. He assured me that he was going to be fine. Such small things can make a difference in the game.”
Mboozi’s sharp mind and instincts were perhaps evident to Daka that the Equipment Manager wanted to make sure that he was in perfect condition before going out for the second half despite the circumstances.
Ndalama’s 15-years with ZESCO United has accorded him a bucketful of medals that any player or manager can only dream of. However, his journey with the team has had its fair share of painful memories.
“This club has accorded me some great memories I will never forget. Winning the Super League and Absa Cup in 2009 is one of the finest moments. Losing to Nkana at home is one of the painful moments I will never forget. I remember developing a headache and completely losing my appetite for food. That’s how painful it was.”
Football has over the years been transformed from a mere social activity into a billion-dollar industry. Results determine how long a manager and his technical staff last in a job.
Ndalama has for over 15 years seen coaches come and go: “I have too much respect for all the managers I have worked with. I can honestly tell you that being a coach is one of the hardest jobs in the world. It is the more reason I don’t see myself pursuing a career as a coach especially when I stop working. I love what I do very much and I see it as a calling.”
A father of five children, Ndalama doesn’t see any of his kids fashioning a career in the game. “I have two boys and three girls. Of course, it is tempting to want one of my boys to get into the sport. However, I respect their independence and at the moment none of them has shown interest in pursuing a career in football.”
Author: Desmond Katongo
