ZESCO United Football Club Team Ya Ziko
ZESCO United striker, Enock Sakala is among a few young star players to have emerged from the club’s academy structures in recent years.
Two seasons with the club, Sakala has already become a household name in Ndola. The young players exploits on the pitch have further caught the attention of National Team Head Coach, Aijosa Asanovic, with the 20-year-old earning a place in the provisional squad for the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations earmarked to play Ivory Coast and Comoros in the first round of qualifiers.
ZESCO United Media Officer, Desmond Katongo caught up with the 20-year-old striker who shared his prospects of playing at the highest-level of the game.
What has been the experience so far of playing for ZESCO United for two seasons.
So far so good. I feel like with the experience from last season and this season will make things better for me in the coming seasons.
What have you learnt from this graduation from the developmental team to the main team?
Playing at the big stage in the Zambian super league; I think comes with a lot of pressure. I feel what has helped me a lot is how to control the pressure. Most matches come with a lot of pressure as such you need to know how to contain that pressure at the same time you need to focus.I have learnt a lot about how to contain the pressure, which requires being focused during the game.
What has been the biggest difference between the two seasons?
Last season, everything that was happening was new to me. Coming to this season, I gained a bit of experience from this past season. It helped me a lot because last season I started most of the games from the bench and I was scoring.
This season was different and a difficult season for ZESCO United. I enjoyed this season because I started some games and hopefully, I can start more.
Playing for ZESCO United is a huge undertaking. This is a big club in the country and the expectations are very high. How are you handling that?
Like I initially said, it is about knowing how to contain the pressure. But this always comes with pressure. You know the fans, ZESCO United is a big team. You must know how to contain the pressure when you are there. It is important to do your best when you are at this type of a club.
You found quite an experienced squad with a lot of veteran players. Kalengo is one example I can give. What lessons do you draw from such players?
Such players are more like our coaches when we are on the field. They often tell you what to do and how to do it and what you are supposed to in a particular situation. They are more like our coaches, especially if you are a young player who needs to listen more and talk less. Kalengo helped me a lot especially in the first season.
He is someone I enjoyed playing with. It is sad that he has retired. But I am hoping to use what I have learnt from him and hopefully help others.
The ambition is to play outside the country. When you look at Patson, Mwepu, and Fashion, what lessons do you draw from that?
It encourages us a lot. Those people have played in the super league before, it is a sign that if we can work hard, we can also play at a big stage.
Two seasons at ZESCO United, quite a young player. Today you are called to the National Team. Did you expect that to come early on in your career?
It is like a dream come true for me. Obviously if you are playing at a big stage you would want opportunities like this to come and when they do come, you need to work extra hard so that they keep coming.
What is the difference between coming from a level of a club and the National Team? Do expectations go up?
The expectations are high because this is the national team where a group of players, best performing players are called as a group to come and form a national team. Obviously, the performance must be up there because everyone who is there is at their best.
Are you not intimidated?
Not really!
What has been a word from some of the experienced players that have played at this level?
I talked someone who told me that when you go there you need to be focused, you know yourself, do what you do, for them to call you there, they know what you can do. Obviously, you have to show them what they called you for.
There is pressure and competition at this level. Do you think this is going to build you more in terms of character?
It is going to build me more as I will also know how to contain pressure at the national team. You know I have learnt how to contain pressure at club level. This is a different level all together. It will come with its own pressure. It is the national team and Zambians are watching. It is a different stage.
You have the experience of working with coach Numba Mumamba and now with the National Team coach. What do you hope to learn from this environment?
I am still getting the experience. I was with coach Numba and now a different coach. Obviously, it is going to be different from what coach Numba says and what this coach wants. I Just have to listen to the instructions of what the coach wants from me.
What caught your interest in Enock Sakala?
Below is Zambia National Team Head Coach AIjosa Asanovic reaction:
I spoke with him just now. Firstly, he is a young guy who wants to learn and focus. When we talk about young guys, Enock or other young guys, it is more important in football to be professional, be honest with everyone, your family, honest with your coach and yourself without that, you can’t progress.
These guys have everything to be on the map of Zambian football. But without hard work, listening to your coach and good recovery, you prepare yourself for training, without that you can’t get anywhere.
