ZESCO United Football Club Team Ya Ziko
Former South African President, Nelson Mandela once remarked: “It is not important how many times you fall, but how many times you rise.” It is a statement which attempts to give hope and courage to those brave enough to look directly into the eyes of defeat without giving up.
Football is a complex sport which can turn your life upside-down in a blink of an eye. From today’s common narrative: Rags to riches. Not forgetting the unpleasant one: A fall from grace.
At 29-years-old, Lazarus Kambole is arguably making the most important U-turn of his career which a few moons back seemed to have been ebbing away.
Kambole a goal scoring machine of the 2018 ZESCO United squad, saw his fledgling career hit some of the highest notes which eventually received notice from South African Premier League giants, Kaizer Chiefs.
A three-year season at Chiefs, however didn’t turn out to be the success story Kambole and many of his United followers ever imagined. It was as though the god of football had suddenly opted to freeze the exciting strikers progress. Kambole labored to find the same form that turned him into one of the country’s most feared strikers, managing only two goals in three seasons.
He was later released by Amakhosi before being snatched by East African giants, Young Africans. Having hardly settled at Tanzanian side Young Africans, Kambole has not been shy to take the hard road again, by renewing his vows with one club which once turned his dreams into reality by signing a six-months loan move with United.
Kambole’s 2019 move from United to Kaizer Chiefs was almost the beginning of the end of a great era of a side that had taken both the domestic and international game by storm. From the 2019/2020 season to date, United have only managed to win one league title and failed to reach the group stage of CAF Champions League and Confederations Cup.
His return to United has coincided with the arrival of Kambole’s god-father, George Lwandamina who has been entrusted with the responsibility of restoring pride at the club. This unification of these three parties has rebooted the confidence of many United supporters.
Kambole hasn’t taken long to remind the football world that he isn’t done yet. The magical striker has thus far played two games scoring three goals for United. His quick resurrection has left many wondering what could have happened down South where the exciting striker only managed to bag two goals in three seasons.
ZESCO United will this coming Saturday face current league leaders, Power Dynamos at the Arthur Davies stadium in Kitwe. This is a fixture which is primed to be one of the most explosive encounters of the MTN Super League week 23.
The Ndola based league giants currently occupy ninth position with 30 points while Power Dynamos enjoy a 12-point gap over the nine times league champions. Lwandamina has guided his side through three draws and two wins since taking over as head coach.
ZESCO United’s 3-0 win over Green Eagles will give the side a lot of encouragement especially that most their front runners have had a consistent bad patch of results in the last five games. Lwandamina will be banking on Kambole’s explosive start to life at United to dismantle Dynamos at their home turf.
United’s last Saturday win was courtesy of a solid performance from the back to the front. Kambole displayed yet again his goal poaching instincts that delivered a brace to give the home side a deserved advantage after Chanda Mukuka’s 2’ minute goal.
Lwandamina will be delighted that his defense has maintained sound discipline in the last five games leaking only two goals. The veteran gaffer will even be happier if they hold it tight at Arthur Davies stadium.
Dynamos on the other hand will be yearning to sustain their lead at the top of the table after getting a crucial 0-1 away victory over Napsa Stars. With only four points separating them from second placed Forest Rangers, Saturday’s clash against United promises all the ingredients of a final.
In the last seven meetings, Dynamos have won twice while United have claimed a single win with the rest ending in stalemates.
These stats, however may not matter much to United supporters who see the return of Kambole as the beginning of the rise of the phoenix.
Author: Desmond Katongo
