The 2017 MTN/FAZ super league was a season to remember with alot of interesting matches and alot drama with Some players making a mark on the Zambian football scene.
Chris Mugalu scored 20 goals in his first season in the league to win the Golden boot.
Zesco United went on to win the league led by Kenyan talisman Jesse Jackson Were but it was not a one man show as a number of players played a very vital role in the league title moving from Lusaka to Ndola.
A new face among those name arose, Lazarous Kambole. When Winston Kalengo requested Zesco United to hand the number 10 jersey Kambole after his derpature many questioned his choice but after this season, his choice should have been vindicated.
“I have confidence in Lazarous Kambole and I believe he is the next best striker at Zesco United, so please give him jersey 10 next season,” That was Winston Kalengo’s last request to zesco United, Something team Manager Mabvuto Banda did.
The 2016 season did not go so well for him something he was determined to change in 2017 and he started the season on a high and scored his first goal of the season on match day one in the two nil win over Konkola Blades.
A brace on match day three in the 4-1 win over Nchanga Rangers gave Kambole an early season Golden boot race lead and everything was going his way. Jesse had only scored once at this point and the goal was from the penalty spot.
Kambole then suffered a five months goal drought that made fans make him a target for abuse and lost his place in the team. Game time rarely came by and was mostly from the bench. Luckily for Zesco United Jesse Were had found his scoring boots and was leading the way, It’s no wonder Zega Mambo faithfuls call him ‘King’.
Kambole was however not done as he scored his first goal in over five months in the three nil win over Lusaka Dynamos. Kambole went on a five game scoring spree to help Zesco keep pushing for the super league .
The next weekend he scored Zesco United’s goal in the one all draw with Power Dynamos before scoring a brace the weekend after as Zesco United thumped City of Lusaka four goals to one.
Three days later in a rescheduled week 30 match Kambole scored Zesco United’s only goal as they beat Kabwe Warriors by a lone goal.
Kambole was again on hand to score for Zesco in their one all draw with the police sponsored out-fit Nkwazi on match day 33.
He established himself as an important player in the starting line-up although he did not score in the next four games he had already done the hard work and was now an integral part of the United set up.
On the final match day he set up John Ching’andu for the opener then Jesse for his second goal before putting his name on the score sheet. No wonder he was awarded as the most improved player and the Clubs most valuable player at the end of year gala.
Now the big question is whether the 23 year old can keep up the good works that he has started or this is the best he could do. With a national team call up that he recently received to join the CHAN squad more is expected of the youngster.
