When he came on the scene it was barely difficult to notice him but coming to the close of the soccer season in Zambia, Fashion Sakala is one player that will be on the lips of many people and teams especially with his new exploits in the Under 20 Cosafa tournament in South Africa.
Bwezani took time to talk to the ZANACO striker and here is what he had to say:-
BWZF: FASHION CONGRATULATIONS FOR THE TITLE AND THE COSAFA GOLD MEDAL. HOW WOULD YOU DISCRIBE THE 2016 FOOTBALL SEASON?
FS: 2016 season has been a good season to me, I have done something more achievable than all the season in my career. This year so far can be considered as my best career year.
BWZF: WE MAY STILL HAVE PEOPLE THAT KNOW VERY LITTLE OF FASHION IN THE AREA OF FOOTBALL . BRIEFLY SHARE YOUR EXPERIENCE IN FOOTBALL. HOW AND WHERE DID IT START?
FS: I started my football career when I was young and my father was also a very good footballer, as a result of this. He time and again used to train with me especially when i knocked off from school.
I use to play football in the rural area for our team Chizimati F.C. during my childhood as in a rural area, we had no academies of football and it was only chimphombwa (plastic ball) that we use to play.
As I grew much older, Inter-school games can be said to have been the key to my football career.
When I was at Chizongwe Technical High School at secondary level, i used to play in the school team and a certain man called Timothy Kafa Nyirenda got me from Chizongwe to his club called Kumawa stars, from their, he also started paying for my school fees at Tina Trust and he was also paying for everything else I needed financially. Luckly, I played 17 games for his club and I managed to score 35 goals in the amateur league.
In 2013, the team won promotion to Division 3 and i played 7 games, scoring 13 Goals, then in the same year 2013, we went to Livingstone for Inter-Provincial games and I played 6 games scoring 9 Goals. I became the top-scorer of the tournament and we were the champions of provincial games as Eastern Province. I remember i played in the same tournament with other Zambian young stars like Patson Daka and Conlyde Luchanga and I scored more than them during that competition. It was then when Nchanga Rangers became interested in me and they identified me through the same INTER-PROVINCIAL GAMES.
BWZF: YOU ARE THE TOP SCORER FOR ZANACO FC THIS SEASON WITH 10 GOALS ALONGSIDE RODRICK KABWE. HOW DOES IT FEEL?
FS: I feel blessed to be a top scorer of the champions Zanaco and that’s the sign that am doing my job as a striker.
My big thanks goes to God who usually gives me goals when I ask from him.
I also really appreciate my teammates for their hard work that has resulted to me being a top scorer of the champions of 2016 season.
BWZF: WHICH GAME WAS YOUR BEST FOR 2016 AND YOUR WORST?
FS: I have been doing well in all the games that i have played this season and with this, i give thanks to the lord almighty for always being their for me.
My best game of the season was against Power Dynamos at Arthur Davies stadium though we lost 2-1.
To me, I played and displayed the best of my skill and even up to now, i always watch repeats of that game at home.
My worst game was against Green Buffaloes when I missed a clear chance after dribbling the entire defence of Buffaloes, I felt neglected after the game and could not manage to do anything at home, I was powerless.
BWZF: NOW WE ARE IN PREVIEW OF SEEING YOU FRUSTRATED AND ALLEGING THE SEASON THAT STARTED WELL WITH YOU AND WAS ENDING BADLY, WHAT WAS WRONG?
FS: 2016 season started so well with me and I thought of being a top scorer for Zambia super league not only for zanaco but unfortunately, I became sick and from that time that’s how I started being on the beach but I never stopped fighting for my position and because I know that’s how football is, I had to fight and ask God to give me strength and power not to be frastrated hence the bad ending, but I did well for the national team games as God answered my prayer to finish the season with smile and happiness on my face.
BWZF: EVERYONE IS NOW TALKING OF ZANACO’S POOR RECORD IN THE CHAMPIONS LEAGUE. DOES THAT BOTHER YOU AND DO YOU THINK ZANACO WILL DISAPPOINT AGAIN?
FS: People say Zanaco is performing bad in the champions league but this is another year God has prepared for us. Individually, I can say I came to break the record of poor performance for Zanaco in the champions league and I will help the team by scoring Goals. God has already answered my prayer for next season I know Zanaco will do well in the CAF.
BWZF: AS ONE OF THE PLAYERS, DO YOUTHINK THE TEAM SHOULD BRING IN A LOT OF PLAYERS FOR THE CHAMPIONS LEAGUE?
FS: Yes, it’s good to bring players in the team but they have to bring players with good character, players who want to work not players that will destroy the team, they have to bring players who can add value to the team that can help Zanaco to do well in the champions league next year not only for the sake of playing for the team and also those that can think about the teams History.
BWZF: ON A LIGHTER NOTE, WHO IS YOUR BEST FRIEND IN THE ZANACO TEAM?
FS: Toaster Nsabata is my best friend not only in football history but has been my friend since i joined Nchanga Rangers in 2013.
I am also close to Salulani Phiri who is always there for me and encourage me that I can do well in football. It only takes being serious with God.
Charles zulu and Boyd Musonda are also my friends who we share a lot in football and even about life.
BWZF: SHARE WITH US YOUR EXPERIENCE WITH THE UNDER 20. YOU LOOKED TO HAVE HAD A VERY GOOD TEAM, HOW DOES IT FEELTO BE PART OF THAT SUCCESS STORY?
FS: It was a very wonderful success by God’s grace and I felt very happy even up to now as the trophy was brought back home for our country.
That was my first tournament for the national team and I tried by all means to help the team with goals and to bring happiness to the people of Zambia.
It was a very good archivement for me and the team because it was more like a preparation for Afcon which Zambia is hosting at the beginning of next year. GOD DID IT FOR US.
BWZF: DO YOU THINK THE NATION CAN NOW RELY ON THAT TEAM FOR THE 2019 AFCON AND 2022 WORLD CUP?
FS: Under 20 team is a very good team that only need to be advised by people all the time for players to maintain the current performance.
It’s a team that can do well in big competitions like 2019 Afcon and 2022 world cup. The team can reach as far as world cup if only every player can have and maintain self discipline because without it, some players will disappear as a result of low level of satisfaction for coaches and soccer lovers.
We need to try by all means to maintain the team for us to become a successful future team for the country.
BWZF: NOW THAT THE SEASON HAS COME TO AN END, ARE WE SEEING FASHION CONTINUE WITH ZANACO?
FS: Yes Zanaco is my club and I don’t think of leaving anytime soon because they are keeping me safe and giving me what I am confortable with and what I think I deserve to be given. If any club outside Zambian comes to me and that club has got good history for players I can go and play professional football. But in Zambia, Zanaco was my dream team and that is where I am now, i have to start aiming at higher level than Zanaco not only outside the country but also in good countries were my performance will be high and still show to people here in Zambia that am doing well even if am out of the country.
I can leave Zanaco at any time if big teams approach me from outside but locally, Zanaco is my team.
BWZF: IF YOU HAD ALL THE POWERS TO SELECT PLAYERS, WHICH OF THEM WOULD YOU LOVE TO JOIN ZANACO?
FS: I would like to play football with a lot of players here in Zambia and we have many good players in our league
My first choice player I would like them to Add is Austine Banda from Mighty Mufulira Wanderers, Kelvin Mubanga from Power Dynamos, Jacob Ngulube from Nkana f.c and
Fwayo Tembo from Power Dynamos.
Austine Banda is the best winger to me in Zambia and we know our runs in the pitch that any time I call for the ball he will give it to me to finish off. He used to be my assist of goals wen I was playing for Nchanga Rangers and really, playing alongside him, kelvin Mubanga and Jacob ngulube who I think are also the best two midfielders in the country and are creative in the game with good passes and not selfish can make a strong team for me.
Fwayo tembo also knows were to pass balls and he knows how to score. I think I can do well to play with these players in my football career.
BWZF: WHAT ARE YOUR LAST REMARKS?
FS: I really appreciate God for his mercy and favour. He has been good to me from the time I started praying and asking for blessings from him alone. He has usually shown me vision about my career and for this, am grateful.
Big thanks also goes to Zanaco technical bench Numba Mumamba, Dabidy chilufya, Roben Musaka and kalumba Mpunga. I really appreciate these people and take them as my parents as they are always telling me the secrets to being a good player in the history of football.
I also thank them because they have given me freedom at Zanaco and believed in me. May God bless them all.
Thanks to my father aswell and the entire family for their support, I really appreciate them. May
God bless them too.
Compiled by Bwezani Mbewe.
