The year 2006, Super League football came to life in the sweet town of Mazabuka in the Southern Part Of Zambia, The Zambia Sugar sponsored side Nakambala Leopards won promotion from Division One South.
The technical bench led by Head Coach Chris ‘Gaza’ Tembo and assisted by Kasi Kalande made it possible for Sugar Boys to test Super League football.
Nakambala, Booked their place in the BP Top 8 Tournament after finishing eighth in their debut top-flight season. The sweet boys made their first semi-final appearance after beating Green Buffaloes at their famously tagged Big Square Ground in Mazabuka on post-match penalties after a stalemate in regulation time.
The Sweet Boys again needed penalties to in the semifinals after a 1-1 draw with Konkola Blades, Nakambala scored through Signs Chibambo while Konkola’s goal was scored by Felix Sunzu.
In the final, however, Emmanuel Mayuka scored a hat-trick for Kabwe Warriors as the Magnificent People’s team went on to win the BP Top eight.
This was the closest Nakambala Leopards came close to winning a trophy.
A team that has been in and out of top-flight football for 13 years and is always a relegation-threatened outfit, Some Football analysts easily label Nakambala as a relegation candidate even before the League starts.
WHAT MAKES RELEGATION THEIR HABIT?
It’s easy to state Nakambala plans to fail, but how does an experienced Team Suffer major football Setbacks.
OVERSAVING EXECUTIVE
The decision-making team has been in office for Over 12 years and during the tenure in office, the teams’ performance has been at constant performance with little or no improvement seen. Nakambala has changed a good number of coaches from the first time it played super league, players too have been subject to changes and yet the executive has been ‘immune’ from change.
The club last held it’s AGM between the 2012 and 2013 Seasons and since then it’s been flowing in office without any AGM.
How can the performance be on point without checks and balances? It’s Clear people entrusted to run the affairs of the club have failed as results have failed to click and that’s why the relegation tag with Nakambala.
Just a close look at Eagles a team that was struggling with Nakambala is performing wonders without any Foreign Players, the secret is putting your house in order to put the club first before personal benefits also involving the fans with seasonal cards and AGM this is what the team is missing.
Lastly don’t hold public positions if you don’t want to be criticized. The only solution is putting their house in order.
Below is a list of Coaches at Nakambala Since Super League debut
2006 – Chris Gaza and Kasi Kalande
2007 – Kasi Kalande
2008 and 2009 – Winston Mumba
2010 and 2011 – Dick Ngwenya
2012 – Fighton Sikukonda
2013 – Wilson Mwale and Chris Tembo
2014 – Dick Ngwenya
2015 – Patrick Phiri
2016 – Humphrey Malikoni
2017 – Mathews Phiri
2018 – Patrick Phiri
2019 – Zeddy Saileti and Linos Makwaza (Transitional League)
2019- Albert Mpande and Nebert Phiri
Currently – Elijah Chikwanda
BAD RECRUITMENT
The Recruitment strategy at Nakambala is very Questionable and never based on performance but rather names that are about to hit the retirement stage, a team that can’t fight for best performing players really can’t survive in top-flight football but they rather depend on loaned players (Currently the team has more than 6 players loaned to them).
Whatever policy the team has is very pathetic and unsuccessful. Players with past glory flock to Mazabuka easily and try to revive their careers, every team needs experienced players but the sweet-boys overdo it in a way and recent form is overlooked.
This section needs fast attention before Nakambala turns into a career reviving team. An example is Ghanaian Adjei Selassie, who played for Nakambala for seasons without scoring a goal nor assist but was the highest-paid player for those 2 years he spent in Mazabuka.
PLAYER CONTRACTS
This may sound simple but it brings about the loss of players without any gain, After the transitional season, Simon Mulenga whose now with Nkana was the Swetboys top scorer but left for free, Andrew Kwiliko left for Green Eagles, John Mwangeni only to mention a few, these players left for free and Nakambala Leopards benefited nothing.
The delayed to give offers on time makes the best players start looking for greener pastures and a way out of Mazabuka.
FANS NEGLECTED
Nakambala Leopards fans are watching the team beat ng whipped in all directions with broken Hearts, They don’t feel part of the team.
The fans can’t access seasonal cards, Replica Jerseys have turned into a dream, the Distance between the fans and the executive keeps growing and this has really affected the home game attendances as the fans feel left out, mixed with poor performances season in season out.
And finally, Nakambala Leopard’s executive will make you believe the words – Failing to plan, is planning to fail.
