I AM LIVING A DREAM: SIKAONGA

Very few young players get the chance to play for their boyhood favourite teams or an opportunity to play alongside their role models. At only 20, Samuel Sikaonga, ZESCO United midfielder is staring at the prospect of achieving both.

Having graduated from the ZESCO United U-19 Youth team into the senior team early last year, the young midfielder is excited about the prospects of playing for ZESCO United.

Sikaonga joined the ZESCO United U-19 Youth team in 2015. The young midfielder has been slowly developing under the watchful eyes of the ZESCO United Youth coaches.

In 2017, club management made a decision to loan the promising midfielder to Zambezi Portland.

“I joined Zambezi Portland in 2017. It was an important move for me because I got very good exposure and game time. My time there was special because we won promotion from division three to division two

It was time well spent for me because I learnt a lot of things and developed a lot confidence along the way.”

Sikaonga’s next and most important target is to break into coach George Lwandamina’s first team.

“It is a great achievement to move from the youth team to the main team. I am motivated because this has always been my dream and now that it has come true, I have to work hard.”

At 20, Sikaonga understands that talent alone will not get him the success that he so much craves for.

“This is a team full of many experienced players. As such it’s important for me to remain disciplined and work extra hard if I am to break in the main team and become successful. I am currently learning a lot from the senior players.

Sikaonga’s fairy-tale journey from the ZESCO United U-19 Youth team into the ZESCO United senior squad has been flavoured by the imminent possibility of playing with his childhood favourite player, Kondwani Mtonga.

“Growing up for me as a player I looked up to Kondwani Mtonga. He has and continues to be my role model in the game. I am greatly excited that we are now teammates and I can’t wait for the opportunity to play alongside him. It is a dream come true.”

Author: Desmond Katongo