ZESCO United Football Club Team Ya Ziko
Football is a gregarious sport that brings players from different backgrounds together. Young, old, inexperienced and experienced all find themselves battling each other for one objective.
The journey to becoming a professional football player can also be a daunting task for young players. Talent alone doesn’t always guarantee one a seat among seasoned footballers.
Most young players have fallen by the wayside not because they can’t play the game but due to a lack of self-esteem to compete against experienced players who on some occasions can be mean towards promising young stars.
However, the story at one of Zambia’s biggest Football Clubs is different. This season ZESCO United has recorded an increase in the number of young players who have graduated to the senior team.
This increase in youth players has largely been exacerbated by the club’s policy to recruit and promote more home-grown players from the team’s feeder clubs.
The club has further been encouraged to go for young players during this transfer window after seeing coach Numba Mumamba’s willingness to promote and use young players.
ZESCO United’s shift in policy has thus far proved effective owing to everyone’s willingness to help young ones succeed at the club especially senior players.
This week Mumamba said the club has the best atmosphere for youth development.
Mumamba said this following the club’s decision to sign 20-year-old Chanda Mukuka on a 2-year loan deal from FAZ/Eden University National division one side Gomes Football Club.
“The environment here is excellent for any young player to develop into a professional footballer. Senior players have been very instrumental in helping all the young players who are currently playing for the senior team to settle quickly. Mukuka will have a wonderful time here and he will develop well with support from senior players,” he said.
Mumamba has courageously promoted four young players to the senior team offering them first team football in the process.
19-year-old Enock Sakala Jnr, was last year granted his debut in ZESCO United’s 2-0 victory against Kabwe Warriors.
Sakala went on to score two crucial goals in ZESCO United’s 1-all draw against Green Buffaloes and in the club’s away victory against Kitwe United.
“It has been easy to settle here ever since I started playing in the senior team. Kalengo, Were, and Ching’andu have all been very supportive. Kalengo talks to me during and after games. This has made life very easy for me because the support system from senior players is very good,” Sakala said.
21-year old Samuel Sikaonga is another lad who has been a regular in Mumamba’s starting eleven since making his debut against Napsa Stars. The young midfield has been making gradual progress in the middle of the park thanks to the support he has received from most senior players.
“I was anxious when I was selected to play in the first game against Napsa. However, that fear evaporated the moment I talked to Adrian Chama. He advised me to go out and enjoy the game. He assured me that he was going to protect me during the game. Such words from a senior player made me realise that everyone was happy to see me get into the team. They have been very supportive to each one of us young ones.”
24-year-old Samson Mkandawire, and 16-year old Luwawa Kasoma are some of the young players learning the ropes at the club with support from the senior players.
ZESCO United has acquired the services of former U-17 and U-20 national team attacking midfielder, Chanda Mukuka.
The promising your attacking midfielder is unfazed by the amount of talent at the club. “I am here to continue developing my career. I am confident I will make it here because there are a lot of young players here and also a lot of experienced players to learn from,” Mukuka said.
The camaraderie currently prevailing at ZESCO United between the senior and young players will go a long way in the club’s quest to winning a 9th league title and in creating a new breed of future stars.
Author: Desmond Katongo
