Rainford Kalaba’s long goodbye begins tomorrow when he returns to league action with Zesco United when they take on Green Buffaloes in a delayed midweek week 2 league game at Woodlands Stadium in Lusaka.
Kalaba will leave Zesco this June after two seasons at the Ndola club to join Portuguese Superliga club Sporting Braga on a five-year deal until 2013.
The game will be Kalaba’s first competitive match since Zesco’s league opener on March 15 in Ndola against Roan United that ended 1-1 and saw the midfielder limp off due to an ankle injury that has kept him out of action until this week.
Kalaba’s presence is a boost for Zesco who are trying to regain their confidence after Al Hilal of Sudan ejected them from the Caf Africa Champions League in the 1st round.
He watched on Sunday as 9th placed Zesco beat promoted and bottom of the table Green Eagles 4-1 in Ndola.
And victory away for Zesco at 12th positioned Buffaloes will see them go top of the table on 7 points.
Zesco are on 4 points from their two games played with another two in hand going into Wednesday’s fixture against Buffaloes who have 3 points from two games.
Meanwhile, Buffaloes are hoping to bounce back after Young Arrows beat them 1-0 on Sunday at the same venue as they try to erase their Confederations Cup 1st round exit at the hands of Highlanders of Zimbabwe.
And in Wednesdays other delayed week 2 match, Zanaco face Young Arrows away at Nkoloma Stadium also in Lusaka.
Hope Kalaba can maintain Fitness,endurance, agilility and discipline before he leaves in June for Braga. Don’t throw it my young man. Success comes with alot of hard work.
I think the Story (rumour) carried by Daily Mail Today that Faz has spoken to former Germany Great Lothar Matthaus to take the job of National Team Coach is encouraging.It seems the Kalu led Executive is aiming high.We hope they will be able to get a high caliber Coach for the Team.Though a good Coach is expensive to get.
I wonder why Kalaba can feature for Zesco when he has signed for FC Braga. Is it allowed? How about if he gets injured before going to Porugal.I think I am behind on this one.
Lothar Matthaus, thats kind of good news. Will FAZ afford him.
For me, it’s not important how high profile the man is. What is important that he is an achiever, is very ambitious and knows how to get results. I think everyone is now ready to settle down and work hard to make Zed formidable. Thanks for the rumour Sibs. We wait and see.
Go Buffaloes, we need the top slot this season.
Hiring a good coach is just part of the equation. We need proper facilities if sport and football in particular was going to improve. We have the waist stadiums in the region…go to “stadiums.com”and see for yourselves.Even high schools and universities in north america have better ground than stadiums used by our professional soccer teams.
# 6, good point. This is very painful. We have headstrong of leaders. We cannot build stadia and still continue to play in dilapidated fields and feel no shame hosting visitors in them. Our leaders are a nuisance.