IT IS SAKALA AGAIN! YOUNG STRIKER SCORES ZESCO UNITED’S WINNING GOAL

Enock Sakala has played three games and scored two goals. It is an impressive start to life for the budding young striker who barely a year ago was an alien to first team football.

Sakala’s rise to stardom can be alluded to the revolution currently taking place at ZESCO United exacerbated firstly by the club’s decision to shift focus from looking further afield for talent to utilising internally developed players.

ZESCO United Football Club has strong feeder teams and a youth set-up that for many years has produced some great names in the Zambian game.

However, the transition from feeder teams to ZESCO United Football club has been frustrating for many budding players who often resort to joining other clubs at the expense of ZESCO United.

Logic Ching’andu, John Ching’andu’s young brother was a ZESCO United protégé who sought life at Forest Rangers after realising that there was less room for first team football at the club.

In Rangers colours, Ching’andu blossomed into a star and became a household name in Ndola.

Ching’andu’s exploits at Forest Rangers forced ZESCO United to go for the nascent midfielder who they surrendered to their town rivals.

Collins Sikombe is another talent that slipped through the ZESCO United system having found his feet at ZESCO Malaiti Rangers.

Today Sikombe is one of the most sought after players in the Zambian league having been successful at Napsa Stars before being prized away to Lusaka Dynamos. He has also been a success at the National team.

Like Ching’andu, history would repeat itself with Clatous Chota Chama. Chama honed his footballing skills at ZESCO Mansa before Nchanga Rangers whisked the talented midfielder to Chingola.

Chama’s next destination was Power Dynamos before ZESCO United were made to pay for his services. The midfield genius currently ply his trade for Tanzanian giants, Simba Football Club.

Today, ZESCO United Management has become increasingly aware of the vast amount of talent it has at its disposal and the need to invest in home-grown players.

The change in policy matters at the club have miraculously coincided with the appointment of Numba Mumamba as head coach.

A firm believer in young players, Mumamba and ZESCO United management are currently a match made in heaven.

Since his appointment as coach, Mumamba has promoted four young players to the ZESCO United senior side.

Samuel Sikaonga(age21), Luwawa Kasoma (age16), Sam Mkandawire (age24), and Enock Sakala(age19) have all been given a chance to shine at the highest level of the Zambian.

Sakala whose father, Enock Sakala senior was known for his prolific scoring abilities is currently ZESCO United’s young in form striker.

On Sunday, the 19-year-old striker scored ZESCO United’s only goal when the former champions drew 1-all against Green Buffaloes.

Yesterday, Sakala scored his second goal for ZESCO United when the eight times league champions beat Kitwe United 0-1 at Garden Park stadium, in Kitwe.

Sakala is a revelation for the club at a time when the teams striking force has grappled in front of goal in the last few games. 

Mumamba understands the importance of blending youth and experience. As such the ZESCO United gaffer has not been shy to use young players at the expense of old and experienced ones when the going gets tough.

This was evident last Sunday when Mumamba decided to substitute Kenyan international striker Jesse Were and introduced 16-year-old Luwawa Kasoma.

With ZESCO United facing defeat, the young nimble footed winger dispatched a brilliant cross which was successfully met by an alert towering Sakala to level matters for the hosts.

ZESCO United’s steady start to the campaign has shaken a certain section of the club’s die-hard supporters who for many years have been used to winning almost everything.

However, it is worth highlighting that the new look ZESCO United side under the tutelage of Mumamba is work in progress.

The acquisition of Kelvin Kampamba, Lazarus Phiri, Bruce Musakanya, David Molinga and the addition of young players will eventually pay-off.

Extremely pleasing, is the club’s brave decision to refocus its player recruitment policy towards home grown players as opposed to buying foreign players in huge numbers.

The aforementioned move will save ZESCO United Football Club huge amounts of money and will further give the club’s home-grown players a rare opportunity to shine both at domestic and international level to the benefit of the team and the nation at large.

Author: Desmond Katongo