January 15, 2008
Name: James Chamanga 
Date of Birth: 02.02.1980
Place of Birth: Luanshya
Position: Striker
Previous Club: Makumbi (UNZA) Stars, City of Lusaka; National Assembly;2003-2004) ZANACO (2005,Loan); Bush Bucks (2005-2006:RSA); Supersport United (2006-2007:RSA);
Current Club: Moraka Swallows (2007- :RSA)
The soundtrack to James Chamanga’s inclusion into the Ghana 2008 MTN African Cup of Nations Chipolopolo squad began with a chorus of boos but it has ended with a cacophonous applause. But Chamanga proved his critics wrong by netting Zambia’s opener against Sudan (Ghana 2008) in the Chipolopolo’s 3-0 win. Chamanga also scored Zambia’s first goal at the Egypt 2006 against Tunisia.
Chamanga was left out of the initial squad for Ghana 2008 by coach Patrick Phiri but his late magnificient form for Moraka Swallows saw Phiri making a U-turn.
With news reaching him that he’s been dropped, Chamanga scored a record-breaking five goals for Swallows in a 6-2 league win against Platinum Stars on December 09, 2007. This included a hat-trick between the 20th and the 24th minute. He followed it with two braces and a hatrick between December 08, 2007 and December 27, 2007. And by the end of the first half of the South African, PSL season, he was the leading scorer with 12 goals in PSL.
There was no way Phiri was going to leave out the Luanshya born as he was the only form national team striker prior to Ghana 2008.
He has always been a steady player, capable of playing in midfield were he started at Makumbi Star alongside national team strike partner Adubelo Phiri, and defender Kennedy Nkhetani. The 28 year old then moved to City of Lusaka together with Nkhetani.
In the 2003, he joined FAZ Premier League new comers, National Assembly and at it was at Assembly were Chamanga burst onto the scene and started receiving rave views. Chamanga joined ZANACO on loan from Assembly in 2005.
Chamanga made his interntional debut on 26th February, 2005 and five months later he scored his first international goal in the COSAFA Castle Cup semifinal against South Africa. His goal against Bafana Bafana earned him his first move abroad as the then South African PSL side Umtata Bush Bucks signed him in 2005.
He is tall and relatively good in the air. His size means that he is rarely brushed off the ball. Despite scoring 7 goals in 24 matches, the former Assembly star player couldn’t prevent his team from going down to South African Division one (Mvela Golden).
In 2006, he signed for Pitso Mosimane’s Supersport United and again he notched in 7 goals in 22 matches. Despite finishing as the club’s top scorer for 2006/07 season, new United coach Gavin Hunt sold Chamanga to his former club, Moraka Swallows. At Swallows, he has become a crowd favourite as the Birds fans have witnessed a revelation of the season with his 12 goals so far.
Chamanga’s impressive displays have been limited to club football while he has only managed three goals in as many games he has played for the Copperbullets. His versility has seen him play in a deep-lying forward or lead striker. He also partnered Rainford in midfield in Zambia’s 1-1 draw against less fancied Chad in 2007.
His performances in the Chad game drew critics from the fans and his post match penalty miss in the 2007 COSAFA Castle Cup against South Africa did help the situation as he became unpopular.
Chamanga has so far played in three successive COSAFA Castle Cup finals (2005-2007), which saw him win it 2006.
He also won the right to partner (kept veteran Harry Milanzi on the bench) the then red hot Collins Mbesuma at the Egypt 2006 MTN African Cup of Nations. He scored against Tunisia though Zambia lost 4-1 and played all the matches at the tournament.
With Mbesuma out of Ghana 2008, Chamanga will be leading the front line for Zambia in Kumasi.
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