ZESCO United boss Numba Mumamba has confirmed that striker Winston Kalengo will retire at the end of the season.
Kalengo’s retirement was first reported by the ZamFoot Crew in December last year.
Mumamba was speaking to the club’s website on the plans to reinforce the squad ahead of next season.
“We will be in the market largely with high hopes of reinforcing the striking department and potentially our defense. The striking force is something we are very much concerned about,” Mumamba said.
“Winston Kalengo will be retiring, and his focus will primarily be on getting his coaching badges. Oburu is in our plans because he did very well in the few games he featured before getting an injury.”
“We need to assemble a strong team that can withstand continental competition and get us to the group stage. This should be our primary target,” Mumamba added.
The 37 year old striker has had a stellar career which has seen him win multiple league titles as well two golden boot awards in a career spanning 18 years.
Kwimba as he is known among his peers in Kasama has only featured for 4 clubs. Simataa Simataa signed him in early 2000s before he made a short trip to Sunset Stadium from Lusaka’s Mtendere township.
In 2003, he made his debut for Zanaco and 3 years later he won his first golden boot award with 16 goals. In that season (2006), he scored a total of 28 goals in all competitions.
After winning three league titles (2005, 2006 & 2009), Kalengo left the bankers and joined Zesco United. In his first spell, he won two league titles (2014, 2015).
His 18 goals in the 2015 season actually earned Zega Mambo the league title. Kalengo was named Zambian Footballer of the Year and top scorer at the 2015 league awards
After returning from a brief spell in Congo Brazzaville with AFC Leopards, Kalengo has gone to win 4 league titles at Zesco United.