Zambian football legend Kalusha Bwalya has tipped Chipolopolo captain Rainford Kalaba comeback stronger after failing to bag the CAF player of the year based in Africa award.

Kalaba finished third in the running to be crowed the best player on the continent behind second placed Zimbabwe’s Khama Billiat and eventual winner Denis Onyango of Uganda.

Kalusha recently came under fire from some soccer fans in Zambia for awarding his first vote which curried five points to Billiat and giving his second vote which had four points to the Ugandan shot stopper, while giving Kalaba three points.

But in responding to a Facebook comment by a fan who wondered why Kalusha did not give maximum points to Kalaba, the 1988 African footballer of the year said it is unfortunate that the Sundowns duo got more points than the TP Mazembe midfield maestro.

“Who told you that? I voted for Rainford but the other two guys got more points than him unfortunately. But Rainford will come back stronger I am sure. Football is like that,” Kalusha said.

Kalaba had 206 points against 252 and 228 for Onyango and Billiat respectively.