From the streets of Chifubu in Ndola, Copperbelt to the friendly town of Kabwe, Central Zambia, Roderick Kabwe’s journey to success has been nothing short of challenges.
A national team player though not much of a regular Roderick Kabwe’s title triumph with Zanaco has not been an accident.
It has stemmed from hard work and determination to succeed since childhood.
” I started playing football for fun in the streets of Chifubu, Ndola and sometimes at school until when my uncle Chuma Kalumba who was playing for Chifubu Bullets, took me and introduced me to the club. I then started training with them though I was scared at first because I didn’t have boots at that time,” Kabwe told soka25 east earlier on this season.
When Roderick Kabwe joined Kabwe Warriors in the year 2011 from Forest Rangers, he was grappling with adapting to new surroundings but the midfielder immediately became an important member of the team.
In November the same year, Roderick Kabwe was called at Le Mans for trials but was unable to seal a move.
He returned back to Warriors at the beginning of 2012 and stayed with the team to push for survival in the Zambian Super League
Unfortunately Kabwe Warriors were relegated to the lower division in 2012 but Roderick stuck with the club and helped them win promotion in 2013.
He left Kabwe Warriors in 2013 and joined Zanaco FC , immediately imposing himself in the team as one of the regular starters.
His time at Zanaco has come with challenges such as injuries and opposition from some family members but the 24 year old has come out stronger by realizing his dream of winning the Super League title with Zanaco.
“What keeps me going is nothing but the love of football itself and looking at were I have come from. I remember my family telling me, that I am just wasting my time (with football) instead of concentrating on school. I didn’t bring anything from it but only to come and eat nshima a lot when I come back. So this is what keeps me going because I can’t stop now and beside this is God’s talent and me not using it to the fullest means I am sinning against Him,” Kabwe said
For the past 5 years, Roderick Kabwe has evolved into one of Zambia’s finest left footed players and its is just a matter of time before he establishes himself as one of the greatest in Zambian football.
