Roderick Kabwe shocked a lot when he decided it was time to move. Ajax Cape town was the destination after successfully managing to lead Zanaco to the league title and endi up as top scorer .
Already we have seen him bug in goals at Ajax. Bwezani of Soka25east found time to talk to the former ZANACO midfielder who is with Ajax Cape town …………
BM: Tell us briefly about Roderick Kabwe
RK: Well nothing really special about me, Am the 3rd born in a family of 7 and Engaged with one beautiful daughter.
BM: Explain how you felt in the 2016 season with ZANACO after winning the title and you scoring 12 goals .
RK: Obviously its every player’s dream to win the league for your club and in my case it is something I really wanted to do with zanaco since I joined in 2013 and we came out fourth that year. In 2014 we ended up 3rd on the final day after leading the race for long only to loose 4-0 to Red Arrows , 2015 runner’s up and finally won it last year and what made it special was that it was the first in my career and being the joint top scorer of the club with 12 goals alongside Fashion sakala was amazing. I thank God for last year and what He did in my career.
BM: Tell us briefly of your soccer career history.
RK: Well its a God given talent. I started playing soccer when I was a kid during my primary school in Ndola. I joined the amature club called Chifubu bullets in 2005, developed my football abit there. Four years later I joined Forest Rangers in January 2009 then stayed 6 months as a training partner because I was very young and the coach that time didnt want to rush me until when coach Linos Makwaza came during the window period in June then I got registered. I played the last 13 games that year in the Zambia Super League as a young star at 17 and scored 7goals.
From that year I established my self and got a place in the team. I left Forest Rangers to join Kabwe warriors in January 2011 played for magnificent team where I enjoyed my football the most in zambia. I ended up being the youngest captain in the league that year. Unfortunately we got relegated but then zanaco came calling for my service but I refused because I was guilty as a captain leaving the team when they needed me most, I stayed back and played division one and got promoted the following year.
Zanaco came calling again this time in 2013, I left warriors with my heart pure cause I had brought back the team where it belonged though people still wanted me to stay but it was time for me to go and face new challenges with zanaco. I knew I would win the league with zanaco and yes it finally came in 2016.
BM: A lot of people still wanted you to be with ZANACO after winning the league . Do you think you disappointed a lot of people with your move to Ajax?
RK: Yes I know people still wanted me to stay but when you are a champion that’s the very moment and time you attract opportunities and basically one came my way which I couldnt deny especially after accomplishing my mission with ZANACO with the title.
I sat down with my family when the offer came and finally made a decision to leave the club I won silverware with, the club that made me who I am today.
I also looked at my age at 25 and you you know football is not eternity, that is life ba Bwezani. So I decided to change the environment and everything in my football career, to have that experience of playing were no one knows you or heard of you and face the challenge that comes with it. I would say the only people that got disappointed are those who really dont understand stages of football.
BM: What would you say is the most memorable time at ZANACO for you?
RK: There are countless memorable times at ZANACO for me, but one which tops the chat obviously is the day we were confirmed league champions after beating NAPSA stars 2-1 coming from behind in the second half at sunset stadium.
BM: What would you count as your worst time at ZANACO?
RK: Few disappointing moments as well when I was taken off on the 45′ mark of the games against ZESCO United at sunset, Power at Arthur davies stadium and Nkana at the same venue in the Barclays cup last year but the worst was when we were 90 minutes away from winning the league in 2014 but unfortunately lost 4-0 to Red Arrows and ended up finishing third on the log and we missed out on the spot for CAF competitions. That was my worst.
BM:Taking you back to the super league in Zambia which one was your most challenging team to play against and which one was your favourite?
RK: Every team in the league was challenging but mostly Red Arrows from my time at Forest, Kabwe Warriors and Zanaco always found it difficult winning against them.
I enjoyed playing against every team in the league but the most difficult Ines were playing against Forest Rangers and Kabwe Warriors my former teams. And though not funny I always scored against these teams (laughs)
BM: You are now with Ajax. What do you think are differences between your former team and your current?
RK: Not much diffrence, but the infrastructure is one notable difference. In football arena both are amazing clubs.
BM: We have already seen you bug in some goals. What’s your objective of the season and how is the atmosphere ?
RK:Obviously my friend and I came here to try and help the team not to go down in the NFD. That’s my objective and the team’s objective too. So my scoring of goals will mean nothing if it wont point towards that objective we have as a team not to be relegated this season and start from there next season.
The atmosphere am telling you is tense here, but as a team we have to face this challenge and treat it professionally and try to pull ourselves out of this situation.
BM: Do you miss ZANACO?
RK: If I deny I wont be fair to my self,yes I miss zanaco so much especially that we haven’t won a game since I joined ,sometimes I tell my self nati if its zanaco nga natuwina (Laughs)
Its good to be here,its a nice place with good guys around at least they make me feel at home.
BM: Who is your best friend at Ajax and who do you miss most at ZANACO?
RK: To be honest every player here is my best friend Bwezani, they are nice people, Nathan Paulsen, Mayambela,Travis, Thabo, Bantu, Erick chipeta etc…….
About ZANACO , I miss the entire team,the moments we spent together. We cried together, laughed together, lost, drew and won together (laughs) it was amazing. Lee Ngoma, Racha, Ziyo, Charles, Boyd, Mangani eish the entire team, I cant mention them all the list is too long.
Roderick while at ZANACO
BM: Are we going to see you coming back to the super league in a short while?
RK: Well on that really I wont comment but I leave everything in God’s hand and allow his wish to happen upon my career, Its Him to lead my way and I just follow behind where He takes me.
BM: On a lighter note, you seem to be so emotional and sob during games even when you have won! Anything connected to that
RK: (laughs) Somehow true, I was never born to lose so it pains me alot when I miss, dont perform well in a game.
But scoring a and crying (laughs) the only time that hapend was in the game against napsa we did all we could in the first half but didnt score, it continued in the second half till the last minutes when we scored twice and won the league. It was an emotional time Bwezani.
BM: Any last remarks
RK: I just want to say thank you to all my former teams and teammates that made me to be where I am today,all the coaches and managements that took care of me when I was at there respective clubs, all the people that supported me and still supporting me, those who never supported and still dont support me. I say thank you all God bless you without forgetting you big man Bwezani Mbewe for hosting me.
I remember attacking you over my transfer last December knowing things that I didnt even know nemwine (laughs)
BM: All the best Roderick
RK: Thank you so much and let me take this opportunity to wish zanaco the very best in the group stage of the champion’s league and also the ZPL that gets underway on saturday.
Zanaco big strong reliable
BM: Pleasure talking to you and on behalf of Soka25east and Bwezani with Zambian football we wish you the very best I’m your career.
