Saith Sakala started making his first strides in his Football career when he was playing for Happy Hearts Academy a Chilenje based outfit and former Division One Southside before making a switch to FAZ Super League campaigners Napsa Stars in 2014 where he spent two seasons with them.
In 2016, he left Napsa Stars for Zanaco to seek reliability from them with their big and stronger stature as they are 7-time FAZ Super League winners.
His first stint at Zanaco in 2016 proved fruitful, he won his first FAZ Super League trophy after pipping the likes of Zesco United to the honor. Zanaco bulldozed their way to the title 9 points clear of second-placed Zesco United with 71 goals scored in 34 games, Saith Sakala scoring 9 of those.
Zanaco became an all-conquering squad with Sakala as their main center forward and in 2017 they won another trophy, the Barclays cup before it was rebranded to ABSA cup after losing out on the league trophy to Zesco United.
With Numba Mumamba as their coach and saith Sakala as the main center forward, Zanaco was a difficult nut to crack. They reached the 2017 CAF champions league group stage were they just lost a single match away to wydad Casablanca of morocco which was the only match they lost in that CAF Champions League season, finishing third in the group same points with Al Ahly of Egypt on 11 points apiece losing out on qualifications due to inferior goal difference.
In 2017, he left Zanaco to seek Green pastures outside the country and joined a Saudi Arabia Premiership outfit Al-Fateh sports club penning a five-year deal.
He spent close to three years in the Saudi pro league before deciding to return home in January to rejoin the bankers.
The ZamFoot Crew caught up with the striker to talk about his career and the upcoming MTN/FAZ Super League season. Sakala says he is delighted to be back at Zanaco a team where he shares many fond memories with.
“I am delighted to play for Zanaco again, first I must thank the Zanaco management and technical bench, Mr. Edward mutale club chairman, Mr. Marlon kananda club General manager, Chris Kaunda my coach, and others who are involved at Zanaco for entrusting back the faith in me, I won’t disappoint them and I’ll make sure the two successful stints I lastly spent at the club they repeat themselves,” he said.
He has set personal and club targets for the upcoming Super League slated for kick off on the 31st of this month and ABSA CUP. Sakala wants to see to it that Zanaco eclipse every team to the FAZ Super League trophy and also win the ABSA cup.
“I want to make sure that Zanaco becomes a force to reckon with, I want to win the FAZ Super League and ABSA cup with the team and I can testify that we will be ready before kick-off because the ongoing pre-season pieces of training are going on smoothly, the big, strong and reliable slogan we are known by will be restored to the hearts and mouth of our fans to bring a smile on their faces,” he said.
Saith may believe there is a lot of competition now in the Super League but he is not intimidated and has set his sights on the golden boot.
“The competition in ZSL has improved tremendously since the time I left, the quality in ZSL is incomparable and I think it’s healthy for the growth of the league but am not scared because I was born a winner and my target for the upcoming season is to win the top scorer award,” he said.
“I will work hard so that I should also be considered for future Chipolopolo assignment as you know that it’s every Zambian player wish to play for chipolopolo so that when I hang my boots naisa ebako abana ukuti nalelepaula amasumbu pa national team direct translated in English as so that I should come tell my children that I used to destroy nets,” he added.
The Lusaka born forward is very optimistic about positive results for the upcoming season.
Saith and his Sensational Zanaco will be looking to push for a top-four finish in the 2020/2021 season after failing to do so last season when the league was cut short due to the Coronavirus epidemic.
