After two fruitful seasons with Zesco United, winning Zambian Super League twice and reaching African Champions League semifinal, Clatous Chota Chama feels it is time to “try luck elsewhere.”
Chama, 25, Wednesday, November 2, 2016 penned a three and a half year contract with 6-time Egyptian Cup winners Ittihad Alexandria, and is expected to join them from January 2017.
However, he feels sad leaving “one of the greatest clubs in Africa” that has helped shape his career to where it is now.
“Honestly it’s sad that I have to leave one of the greatest clubs in Africa. But in life one has to be ready to face new challenges. One should never just sit in comfort zone. I decided to leave because I want to try my luck elsewhere and in a different league,” Chama explained his choice, in an exclusive interview with Soka25east.com Wednesday 9.
The former Power Dynamos and Nchanga Rangers attacking midfielder, who has endured love-hate relationship with fans lacks words to describe his stay at “Team ya ziko” but will forever treasure the memories.
“I really don’t know the exact words I can use, but one thing for sure, I have learnt a lot and forever will treasure the years I have spent with the team. The unity, love, hard work, confidence, belief, motivation…was marvelous. I have grown and I really appreciate all the people who have been there for me,” he said.
The Mufulira-born midfield wizard who operates in small spaces, and has keen eye for goal with long range shots, described coach George “Chicken” Lwandamina as a person who is “cool, serious and honest.”
“He never just wanted us to do what he asked us to do, but also wanted us to understand what and why he wanted us to do things that way. He always wanted the team to perform and he is so encouraging and always trusts his players. Anyone at Zesco will tell you that coach Lwandamina was more than just a coach to the team,” he said of the 53-year-old manager who has since left the club for Yanga SC in Tanzania.
Under Lwandamina, Zesco transformed into an attacking beast that spared no one – managing to win the league twice (2014 and 2015), and shocking Africa by reaching 2016 CAF Champions League semifinal – losing to eventual winners Mamelodi Sundowns of South Africa.
On the road to the unprecedented feat, the Ndola based side brushed aside heavyweights Al Ahly of Egypt at group phase, in a two legged match in which Chama stirred in – grabbing a brace in 3-2 first leg win at Levy Mwanawasa stadium.
Chama describes 3-2 loss to Nkana FC in the league on November 6 in which he was sent-off for dissent and booed by fans as his lowest moment at Zesco, “Playing against a big team like Nkana who were not at their best and losing. Worse still was getting a red card when the team needed me the most. And as if that was not enough, the so called fans threw stones and bottles at me.”
He says he has never done anything “foolish” intentionally when on the field, and he has never seen himself bigger than the club, “What happened on that day the players who were close and inside the pitch would bare me witness, I talked to the referee because I felt he was not fair to us. I fight for what I believe is best and I want my team to be treated fairly, I want to work extra hard for my team.”
This year alone, Chama has received two red cards in the super league, one in the champions league and a suspension for accumulated yellow cards in the champions league, but he holds it doesn’t mean he is full of himself, but just hungry for success.
He holds that footballers deserve respect from the “so called fans”, “I have been to school yes, but to me football is more than just a game. My life, my dreams and all that I have always desired to achieve is through football. I think we footballers deserve respect especially from the so called fans.”
Tweet me @bonfaceosano
