Charity Shield blinding show–Trip down memory lane when Sate bestrode headlines

Sibeleki on Monday Column

So many talking points from Saturday’s Samuel ‘Zoom’ Ndlovu Charity Shield final – the season’s curtain raiser in Zambia – as league record holders, Nkana once again sent a reminder to Zesco United regarding who, between them, is the patriarch.

To others, the talking point is the white table, with 4-steel legs, for the Charity Shield silverware presentation to Nkana, but ‘Sibeleki on Monday Column’ chooses to pontificate about moments that dragged, if not everyone then Nkana fans, to half a decade ago.

When Ronald Kampamba was the name planted on everyone’s lips. When renowned endogenous football fandom ‘Ba Seba’, out of all and sundry chose to mere his body in paint, Kampamba’s nickname ’30-30′.

When Blogger and celebrated on social media, with an international clout, Puncherello Chama used to bend everyone’s ears regarding how Kampamba deserved to run the Chipolopolo show upfront – but the irony was 2-times Africa Cup of the Nations (AFCON) winning coach, Herve Renard thinking ostensible.

And, on Saturday at Nkoloma Stadium, Kampamba, alongside former Zesco United forward Idriss Mbombo laid down the marker with a beautifully netted brace, as captain of the side, until Joseph Musonda was brought in, obviously to take up the responsibility of receiving the Charity Shield trophy from Football Association of Zambia (FAZ) president Andrew Kamanga.

The picture, which was taken by one of the finest photojournalists of this era, Allan Matiya – among them being Kitwe domiciled Zambia Daily Mail staffer Mathews Kabamba and seasoned in his right, Jean Mandela – says it all, about how blinding the performance of the flamboyant striker was on the day.

Taking a trip back to 2013-14, Kampamba was the cynosure in the country’s flagship league competition until he joined the Egyptian premiere league middleweights Wadi Degla FC. It was therein the country of the patriarch King Pharaoh – the country that gave birth to Liverpool and currently African best player Mohamed Salah, and how can one not include Mohamed Aboutrika – were Kampamba slipped through the rails, in a tussle for a places against Nigerian striker Stainely Ohawuchi.

In pursuit for career resuscitation, Sate Sate or 30-30 shuttled his way to Belgium, but neither there he could find the peace of his mind. Then he returned to the place which is no better than home; the place were fans in the stands will sing his name when he does something good with his legs.

The first season, after his return,  was not quite a bed of roses but with the performance on Saturday, one can envisage him being primed for greater things as the season burst into life this coming weekend.

ENVOYS FLATTERED TO DECEIVE

Meanwhile this year, it was the first time for the Zambian league of earning the rights, courtesy of the CAF 5-year rankings, for 4-entrants in the Pan-African club competition. After years of impressing, just when our clubs were presented with the only glorious opportunity to win a continental silverware, all they could do is disappoint. If this is not what they call “flattering only to deceive” then I do not know what it is.

But not all hope is lost for Zesco United and Zanaco, who in my own opinion, I think the group stage is not beyond their touching distance,  only if they can score a maximum of 2 goals each without allowing away in Swaziland and Ivory Coast respectively. For Nkana, just the case of minimizing the damage; and Green Buffaloes were already shown the exit door in the preliminary round of the 2018 Confederation Cup after being pummeled by Egyptian premiere league side Al Masry.

This was my opinion when the head of sports at KweseESPN Ed Dove asked for opinions from the experts, from various countries regarding the chances of their clubs, ahead of the group stages in a WhatsApp group known as ‘African Soccer’.

We desperately need one of the clubs participating in continental football, advancing to the group stages, otherwise we shall be missing on points in the CAF 5-year rankings. This connotes us returning back to the old setting of fielding one-apiece, in the CAF Champions league and Confederation Cup.

FEDERATIONS GOING TO ELECTIVE CONGRESS

This year, federations in Nigeria, South Africa, Rwanda, Ethiopia and probably, finally Serra Leone will converge for their Elective Conferences.

I envisage Amaju Melvin Pinnick to retain his post as the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) president. With the Super Eagles going to Russia 2018 FIFA World Cup, people with vested power to install the NFF leaders cannot just exalt someone else other than Amaju in the hot seat.

In South Africa, a smoothy sailing for Dr Danny Jordan to retain the SAFA presidency is anticipated against former referee Ace Ncobo, after the aspirations of the 2016 FIFA President Elections candidate Tokyo Sexwalle, Bafana Bafana legend Lucas Radebe and former SAFA Veep Chief Nenkonyana – were halted dead in the tracks.

In Rwanda, the federation’s elections were pushed to later this year after the only candidate, a woman for that matter, failed to amass the majority votes. The incumbent, by then, Vincent Nzamwita withdrew from the race citing family reasons.

Ethiopia and Sierra Leone, federations have been on the crossroad, after numerous interventions and postponements by the World football governing body FIFA. The mandates for both country’s executives expired last year.

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY CAF PRESIDENT AHMAD

Mark Zuckerberg’s Facebook, reminded me that around this time, last year I jumped on the bandwagon of millions subscribers around the continent, who publicly expressed euphoria with the ousting of Issa Hayatou by the Madagascar Ahmad in the race to the CAF presidency.

Happy anniversary to you president Ahmad from Zambia, the country that gave birth to Godfrey ‘Ucar’ Chitalu and the 1988 African player of the year Kalusha Bwalya, who now serves in your CAF Executive committee.

But, just how much African football has evolved under your reins, in the past one-year?

So far so good. But can you please honour your words regarding the probe of the CAF, Largadere deal which was amongst your campaign manifesto.

Also Mr president, some dust being raised that about your obsequiousness to the FIFA president Gianni Infantino, who apparently his body language seems to be backing the USA bid, in the race to host the 2026 FIFA World Cup – against our African brothers, Morocco.

I just want to remind you that, by seing to it that the mondial returns to Africa, for the second time, in 2026; and if you can survive as CAF president by then – you would have archived in a decade, a feat that your predecessor, Hayatou archived in 32-years, when he brought the flagship football tournament on this planet Earth, for the first time to Africa and South Africa. When popular musician Shakira and wife to Barcelona central defender Gerald Pique sang the song “Amina mima ehe! ehe! Waka Waka Eh! Eh! Amina mina Zakalewa it’s time for Africa”. What the days to reminisce!All the best president Ahmad and keep up with the good work.

From me here in ZAMBIA, LIVINGSTONE to be precisely – until next Monday – be showered with God blessings and Good bye!

[ You can connect with me on Twitter @SibelekiJames, Facebook James Sibeleki, Email me [email protected] and WhatsApp +260975757824.

Those of you in my beautiful town, home of one of the seven wonders of the earth – the Mighty Victoria Falls, you can listen to me as I feature on the World of Sports programme, on Zambezi FM, alongside ZNBC presenter Moonga Siakanono and seasoned football administrator Patrick Kasoka;  hosted by the South African born international Heinz Nawa Munene. Globally, you can download my personal Podcast the African Football Magazine Show.]