By Simwami Musonda
It is well known to most Zambian football fans that one of the most celebrated Zambian goalkeepers, Kennedy Mweene started his football career not between the sticks, but as a lethal striker during the time he spent at State House Football Club and Kafue Celtic FC.
He later on became one of the top-class goalkeepers on the continent of Africa and went on to win the 2012 AFCON.
Here is another young promising talent that has come out in the lime-light as one of the best goalkeepers in Southern Province, and certainly one of the promising goalkeepers for Zambia.
Official Kaumbi is the name to remember, He like Mweene also started his football career as a striker.
The River Plate FC goalkeeper started his football journey as a striker at Nangana Farms FC who were in the Amateur ranks and are currently competing in a Southern Province Division Three Zone B of Southern Province. Because of his hunger for goals and not wasting any chance, Kaumbi made a move to Red Lions FC.
His journey as a striker continued and guided the Lions to Division 3 during the 2017 season where they spent only one season and qualified to Division 2 of Southern Province Football. Clearly, he was a prolific striker who led the attack very well and guided Red Lions to rapid progress by winning games through his goals.
It was during the 2018 Division 2 campaign when Kaumbi was converted from scoring goals to saving goals. In October 2017, after the close of 2017 soccer season and qualifying to Division 2, the first-choice goalkeeper Kelvin Sakafunya died that left a vacancy of one goalkeeper. Instead of looking for another goalkeeper, the Red Lions saw the potential in Official Kaumbi and converted him into a goalkeeper.
By the commencement of the 2018 season in a new life of Division 2, Official Kaumbi proved equal to the task and became the second-choice goalkeeper at the club, deputizing his elder brother Oscar Kaumbi who took over as the first choice.
However, he only spent few matches on the bench and his elder brother Oscar Kaumbi joined the injury list, the time was now for him to shine and show his potential.
After recovering from injury (Oscar Kaumbi), Official Kaumbi continued as a first-choice goalkeeper and his elder brother served as second choice goalkeeper.
They only spent 2 seasons in Division 2, the first season finished second on the log and the second season finished as champions and won promotion to Division 1.
In 2021, his journey was renewed as his services were needed at Chikankata based outfit River Plate FC. It wasn’t an easy one for the young goalie as he fought for the position with Tyton Zulu who possesses massive experience after playing a high-level competitive football in the country, the MTN Super League with Real Nakonde, Kabwe Youth Academy and MUZA FC.
When an opportunity came for him to be between the sticks, Kaumbi proved beyond reasonable doubt that he was the man equal to the task and the best among the goalkeepers at River Plate such that he spent the rest of the season as a first-choice goalkeeper. He has continued his fine form until now in the 2021/2022 season.
Official Kaumbi still thinks he has an ability to play as a striker if given an opportunity though he does not have any consideration of leaving the goal posts and he will continue working hard on his current role.
Kaumbi and River Plate are currently second on the log with 28 points one shy of log leaders Blue Arrows though they have played a game less than Arrows.
