A tumultuous year for Chipolopolo, but a mixed bag for Zambian football overall.
Highlights of the year
The initiation of a new Football Association of Zambia adminstration marked the beginning of the year–2016.
Successful businessman, Andrew Kamanga beat 1988 African footballer of the year Kalusha Bwalya in a Presidential poll at the AGM in March.
It was dismaying, a shock that some fans are yet to get over, followed by some other bewildering events such as Chipolopolo’s failure of qualifying to an Africa Cup of the nations tournament for the first time in 12-years and a Cosafa Cup quarterfinal elimination to Swaziland.
Synonymous to a team in a hostile territory as Borg El-Arab stadium in Egypt or any other North Africa trip, the new administration struggled to settle.
They were to subdue plagues from inside squabbles, opposition and sabotage that led to the suspension of Vice President Richard Kazala and treasurer Blackwell Siwale.
Images: Courtesy
Away from politics, the top tier, Super league went through a reformatory patch–the expansion from 16 to 18 teams.
Lumwana Radiants had a year to remember–after becoming the maiden football club hailing in Northwestern province to play top tier flight football.
What a dreadful year that anyone related to Mufulira Blackpool would not want to reminisce after getting relegated without winning a single tie!
For Zesco United, it was a year to be proud, following an impressive run in continental football. Team Ya Ziko set a new record–becoming the first Zambian club to reach CAF Champions league semifinals.
And Zanaco, it a was a triumph year after clinching the seventh league title since 2012 under the tutorage of the late Keegan Mumba [MHSRIP].
PICTURE: SENSATIONAL ZANACO
Majority of Zambian players abroad had unimpressive statics to the exception of the TP Mazembe contingents, Collins Mbesuma and Weston Kalengo.
The Democratic Republic of Congo powerhouse, TP Mazembe scrapped the failure to defend their CAF Champions league title but by winning the Confederation Cup; thanks to the Chipolopolo captain Rainford Kalaba who played a key role.
Photo: Courtesy
Collins Mbesuma was all over the media in South Africa after finishing as top scorer in the 2015-16 ABSA Premiership term on 14 goals. The 32-year old striker joined the list of legends on centurion–100 goals in PSL.
©Samuel Shivambu/BackpagePix
After netting a century in the Zambia Super league, Westone Kalengo sort to switch abroad and settled for AC Leopards in Congo Brazzaville. The former Zesco United finished second on the scorers chart on his debut season in Central Africa.
Photo courtesy of Futaa.com
Striking moments of the year
Amid all the crisis in Zambian football this year, there are moments that brought bliss on our faces.
Moments such as Zesco United topping Egyptian giants Al Ahly to qualify to the semifinals of 2016 CAF Champions league.
Zambian FIFA referee Janny Sikazwe officiating the 2016 Club World Cup final pitting Kashima Antlers against Real Madrid in Japan.
Courtesy photo
And, it doesn’t get better than finishing a year with a trophy. It doesn’t matter how iota it is, the junior Chipolopolo accomplished a recommendable job to beat the Amajita to win the 2016 U-20 Cosafa Cup in South Africa.
Courtesy photo
The year 2017 comes with the painful reality–when Chipolopolo’s name won’t be mentioned during the Gabon Africa Cup of the nations in January. However, it will be a moment of reflecting deeply and mend our broken hearts with the U-20 AFCON triumph; This will be the beginning of Zambian football resurgence.
