March 16, 2010
Katongo being unveiled to the media in August 2008 after he joined from Dannish side Brondby. Bielefeld is reportedly ready to offload him because of his massive wages
Chipolopolo Boys skipper Chris Katongo’s Germany Bundesliga.2 club Arminia Bielefeld has ‘massive financial troubles’ and that are affecting the club’s promotion chase.
According to Zambianfootball.net’s Germany football expert Uwe Kittel, Bielefeld might even go into administration like English Premier League Portsmouth, a club another Zambian star, Collins Mbesuma played for in the 2004/05 season.
“Katongo’s Bielefeld has massive financial troubles. When they played Bundesliga (last season) they started to rebuild one of their stands (in the stadium), but the costs exploded and due to the relegation they lost great incomes,” Kittel explained in an interview with the Zamfoot Crew from his base in Germany.
Kittel added by explaining the magnitude of the financial woes, “They even had to sell their furniture a few weeks ago to a local bank and rent it back.
“There is a possibility that they will face a point deduction this season and they would be finally out of the promotion battle. There are also rumours that Bielefeld had not paid all the salaries (players) in the last months.
Bielefeld suffered a second loss within a space of five days on Friday after they were beaten by Alemannia Achen and that has left them 14 points behind the leaders. From the 26 games played, the side which was one of the bookmakers’ favourite to win back promotion to the top tier is lying fifth with 43 points.
On the future of the Zambian skipper who is one of the club’s top earners, Kittel believes this could the last weeks of Katongo at Bielefeld.
“For me it looks like this are the last weeks for Katongo at Bielelfeld, his salary is surely a massive point to get him out in the summer. But I wouldn’t even bet that Bielefeld gets the license for the new season.
Katongo has played in 21 league matches this season and with a return of five goals but mostly of those goals came at the season when he was deployed in his favoured central striking role.
Kittel has also kept eye on another Zambian in the Germany second tier. Andrew Sinkala’s Augsburg are lying second on the log with 50 points and is the inform team in the league.
Sinkala who has made 20 appearances in the holding midfield role for the surprise package coincidently missed Augsburg’s 1-0 loss to Karlsruher over the weekend. This was Augsburg’s first defeat in the last 10 games on which they recorded a massive 8 wins to boast their promotion chase.
“Sinkala picked up a minor knee injury at the Paderborn-game the weekend before that was also the reason why he was substituted,” Kittel explained the former Nchanga Rangers ace’s absence.
Kittel added “He was back in training but not on 100%, so the coach decided after the final training session on Friday that Sinkala won’t be in the squad for the match at Karlsruhe.’’
Elsewhere in the news former Germany based and Sinkala’s Nchanga Rangers teammate Moses Sichone played a full game for AEP Pafos but unfortunately they lost at home to Nea Salamina in the Cyprus lop flight.
‘Big Mo’ has played in 21 league game from AEP Pafos’ 25 league games. Pafos is lying 9th on a 14 team log.
In Israel, Emmanuel Mayuka was only restricted to 29 minutes in one of the league eagerly anticipated games involving Maccabi Haifa and Maccabi Tev Aviv, in which a referee is normally imported from abroad and sadly the man who was flown from Germany mistakenly sent Mayuka for an early shower despite TV replays showing that the 19 year did not kick the defender.
This was Mayuka’s first card (he has never been yellow carded) in his 33 games for Maccabi Tev Avi.
Haifa went on to win the game courtesy of an 81st penalty. Tev Aviv is now 22 points behind the arc-rivals and in third position with 48 points.
In the second tier, William Njobvu came head to head with Justine Zulu and the latter had the last laugh after his club Bnei Lod stunned promotion chasers candidates and log leaders Kiryat Shmonna by a 1-0 win. Bnei Lod is now 12th on a 16 team log and still in the relagation promotion playoff while Njobvu’s club is still top with 52 points and only four games to go.
44 Comments on "Financial problems affecting Katongo’s Bielefeld promotion chase…and this could lead to the Chipolopolo Star’s exit!"
| COPYRIGHT © 2007-2011 Zamfoot Sports Agency. All rights reserved. |
Big Steve from SA on Tue, 16th Mar 2010 10:49 AM
This is not good for our captain and I’m not sure if he has attracted enough interest with just 5 goals to his name. I hope he made contacts just when he started realising that the club may not pull out of its financial woes.
Mabbwana on Tue, 16th Mar 2010 10:57 AM
Where to next for our skipper? His goal tally doesn’t reflect too well for a striker. who wants to attract attention. May be the issue of him playing wide might be a point in a question.
Too bad for young Mayuka, it must be devastating for him especially that his team went on to lose the game. It seems he is the now the prefered striker seeing that he was even given to start this high profile game. The boy is surely making steady progress.
Jojo on Tue, 16th Mar 2010 11:29 AM
Chris..please!dont go to south africa..its better you stay in europe….
Sibs on Tue, 16th Mar 2010 12:34 PM
Jojo i wouldn’t agree with you more. Better going back to Denmark.
Big Steve from SA on Tue, 16th Mar 2010 12:59 PM
Me too I totally agree as well, he should not entertain any talk of a PSL return even if his agent suggests it.
Justice Kafusha on Tue, 16th Mar 2010 1:11 PM
I think he can find a club around Europe. It will all depend on where he wants to play. Infact his agent should by now be in the process of talking to some clubs. About his number of goals I should say it is not easy to score many goals when you are playing for a crap team. I would recommend he finds a club in Holland
Chali Cool on Tue, 16th Mar 2010 1:34 PM
Maybe you can help him on that one. Don’t you have any connections with clubs in Denmark?
Nathan on Tue, 16th Mar 2010 1:39 PM
Just let him play in south africa. You must also understand that Chris is not geting any younger so he might not attract as many teams as he culd wen he was a bit younger. May be denmark is also another destination for him, he can also go to Dubai to go and make money as he retires.
Justice Kafusha on Tue, 16th Mar 2010 2:18 PM
I have no connections to clubs from the Super league, only those in the lower divisions. However Chris is well known in Denmark from his time at Brøndby IF, who are a shadow of themselves. I think he still has some years left in him
chiti chitundu on Tue, 16th Mar 2010 4:04 PM
two things i dont understand
1. why mbesuma left maritimo and went t turkey
2. why chris left top flight team brondby and went to srmenia beleifeild
3.
Positive thinking ..aka Awe on Tue, 16th Mar 2010 9:26 PM
@chiti chitundu
Armenia Beleifeild was actually a bundasliga team when Katongo arived. They were top tier, the guy was running aginst Ribery and Luca Toni, but they were relegated last season. It wasn’t a bad deal at the time, but with lower tier football comes less money thats probably why the club is struggling financially…. Denmark wasn’t a bad deal neither though.
Seasoned Soccer fan-USA on Wed, 17th Mar 2010 7:42 AM
The Post- One on One With Mbola
Mbola said Africa cup was one the best moment of life.
Read more:
JUST the mere link of a Zambia national soccer team player to English giants Totenham Hotspurs was enough to throw the local football landscape into frenzy.
While the move remains masked into a maze of contractual complexities Emmanuel Mbola’s football abilities are not in doubt.
The 16-year-old (do not swear me to that!) was the youngest player at the just ended Africa Cup of nations where he put up match winning performances.
The teenage star played in all the four matches at the Africa Cup and was granted the accolade of Man of the Match during the Zambia vs Nigeria game.
In an interview after his much publicized trip to White Hart Lane, Mbola walks the Education Post through his football journey that started in 2001 at Mansa High school.
“I started football during my years at Mansa High school where I was from 2001 to 2006,” says the player with 20 national team caps.
Mbola says early at school he was not a high profile player until he got to grade 10.
“In my junior secondary I was not making it in the school main team but when I made it to grade 10 I became a regular,” he says.
As a school boy, Mbola hooked himself up with Mansa Health, a local division II club.
“At school I became very good with football such that Mansa Health got me by then I was not a defender but a midfielder,” Mbola says.
Through his football exploits Mbola then started featuring for then district top side Mansa Hotel.
Upon completion of school in 2006 Mbola captured the attention of the then lively and youthful side Afrisports.
“In 2006 after I completed my school I joined Afrisports in Kitwe where I spent a season,” says the capped national team player.
Although he does not admit it, his stay at Afrisports was a flop as he was up against competition from Rainford Kalaba.
After a disappointing spell at Afrisports, Mbola trekked to Mining Rangers where he shot to fame.
“In 2007, I joined Mining Rangers where I think I had very happy days,” he reminisces.
Soon after a successful first season at Mining Rangers, Mbola was called for national trials at under-17 level at Independence.
“In 2008 I was invited for national trials at u-17 at national team level where I was picked,” he says.
His first test of battle in national colours was against Namibia, a game we drew 0-0 and ended up wining on penalties.
Things were to be even better for the lad as he joined the senior national team comprising local players. His first chance to adorn senior colours was a game against Angola that Zambia won 1-0.
Having impressed the technical bench Mbola was part of the team that played in the Confederation of Central and East Africa Football Association (CECAFA) where he continued to impress.
Due to his good show at the tournament he was spotted by scouts from Russian giants CSKA Moscow where he was invited for trials. However, Mbola settled for Armenian side Pyunik Yerevan.
“During the CECAFA in 2008 I was watched by scouts from many clubs like CSKA Moscow and the club I later signed for Pyunik Yerevan. According to public records Mbola was 15 at the time of signing the contract something that has come back to haunt him in his career.
At that time he penned a three-year contract up to 2011.
Mbola has hardly been made it beyond one year in Armenia and top European sides have come calling.
Mbola looks at the Africa Cup as having been the highlight of his career so far.
“The Africa Cup was my biggest moment in football so far. I was the youngest player at the tournament,” he says.
Mbola says although he was up against seasoned campaigners at the Africa Cup like the highly rated Cameroonian defender Rigobert Song, he was never intimidated.
“I did not think that my age was a disadvantage actually I knew that I could stop any opposition at the tournament and I proved it,” he says.
Mbola admits that coming up against star players like Samuel Eto’o and Nigerian target man Peter Odemwinge was a tough call.
“There were times when it was tough to keep opponents away like the game against Cameroon (Zambia lost 3-2) and the game against Nigeria (Zambia lost on penalties after 0-0 draw in regulation time) Eto’o and Odemwinge were difficult opponents,” narrates Mbola.
With the Africa Cup solidly behind, Mbola got an invitation to attend trials at Totenham and for a moment the entire nation collectively buzzed in glory.
The deal has since been put on hold pending Mbola sorting out contractual complexities with Pyunik Yerevan. His local manager Elijah Chileshe says Mbola was forced to sign a contract despite being 15 years.
According to FIFA statutes a person u-17 cannot sign a contract as he is deemed to be a minor.
Mbola expects to be back at Totenham as soon as his issues with Pyunik are sorted out.
While at Tottenham Mbola had an opportunity to train with the Tottenham first and second team as part of assessment.
“It was a fantastic opportunity to go to Totenham for trials. On the first day of trials I trained with the first team while on the second day I trained with the second team.
They wanted to sign me just there but they told me to first sort out my problems with Pyunik,” he explains.
“The stadium is great and I think it is a good destination for any player,” he says.
Mbola is a fan of English side Chelsea and hopes to one day play for them.
He says the quarter final exit was painful but is upbeat about the future.
“It was painful to come out on penalties but that is football. The good thing is we are a young team and can still play at the next Africa Cup and do better,” he says.
The British newspaper mirrorfootball.co.uk reported that Totenham had dangled £1million for the signature of the teenager.
While Mbola’s correct age may be in doubt his talent is certainly indisputable!
postzambia
Big Steve from SA on Wed, 17th Mar 2010 9:49 AM
for question 1. I’m not too sure what the sense in that was but as for question 2. it is pretty obvious isn’t it, bigger league, bigger oportunity of recognition and to top it all, the one thing that drives todays soccer player, a far bigger pay cheque.
Uncle Bobs on Wed, 17th Mar 2010 10:36 AM
Are our players cursed not to succeed in Europe? Just when we thought Chris would put us on a map, now this is happening. Something just isn’t right as even Kenya have a player at Inter who exploded on his debut. Awe kwena twalishama. Guys let’s brainstorm and try to find out just why we are so unfortunate in this area as relatively our players are more talented than some players from other African countries that make it in Europe.
Big Steve from SA on Wed, 17th Mar 2010 11:49 AM
Uncle Bobs this is something that has also given me a headache for so long. I just dont understand why. People always have 101 reasons but I find most of the reasons given can be countered. I was at Pongas house yesterday but unfortunately for too short a time for us to engage so I could hear it from one of our long standing football people in Zambia.
1. People say we have average players who we the locals (Zambians) consider to be stars. This is not the case as was proven in the last Afcon. Even Eto who continuously torments defenses in Europe needed a lucky break to bang in a goal against us. Other national team coaches were talking about Kalaba and Mbola and yet Alex Song is the one at Arsenal. It is just bewildering.
Chris katongo was even rated by FiFA at the Afcon we lost 5-1 to Cameroon but now is looking to be jobless if his agent doesn’t pull up his socks. So we can comfortably rule out the level of talent.
2. Discipline is another factor. Granted our boys are seriously lacking in this area. The rags to riches element is way too prevalent in too many of our boys that a couple of dollars is just enough for loss of focus. This is also the case in the PSL. A whole bunch of players in the PSL go through the 15 minutes of fame story but then again the PSL produces far more players in Europe. Granted at the moment the majority are bench warmers and reserve team players in Europe these days but the fact they get there at the speed at which they do as compared to us is just bewildering. Jabu pule (Mahlangu these days) is probably amongst the ten most indisciplined players on the African continent but picks and chooses when he wants to go overseas, how come our boys even the indisciplined ones don’t have this choice.
Uncle Bobs I could go on but this headache on Zambian players seems to have no aspirin. I hope one day we can sit around one table with the other bloggers and brain storm this.
chiti chitundu on Wed, 17th Mar 2010 12:18 PM
@Big Steve from SA
thanks gentlemen , and why chamanga went to china istead of the offer he had to go to the team where mikel played in norway? and why maccabi instead of porto in the case of mayuka???????????
chiti chitundu on Wed, 17th Mar 2010 12:20 PM
let me know gentlemen make me understand please please
, i dont understand. next we will hear mbola has an offer to go to france and the he goes to simba in tanzania.
Big Steve from SA on Wed, 17th Mar 2010 12:44 PM
Chamanga actually didn’t make the cut in Norway. Sometimes I also dont understand how players fail trials but I guess sometimes coaches just dont see you fitting in.
On Mayuka I think everything that can be said about this move has been said and the people involved pockets have gained a bit of weight.
For as long as the vultures in FAZ are there Mbola will end up in Isreal or something. The fact that Totenham have shown interest has aroused every agents interest in this kid but because of the vultures only agents prepared to engage in dodgy deals will be prepared to take him on and as such he will end up in a league like Isreal. Just wait and see.
Big Steve from SA on Wed, 17th Mar 2010 1:02 PM
@chiti chitundu
Another thing is to be honest, these scandanivian countries I’m not sure are the best place for our players because the rush should not be to just get into Europe but also to leagues that will improve your skill. I have been watching a programe on Chanel O called goal diggers that follows African players life styles in Europe. The guys in Sweden and Norway you can tell are not earning any money to talk about and leagues with no money generally have low level talent. There was such a gap in quality of life style between Pinaar in England and Paulse in Norway.
CHESWA GERRY on Wed, 17th Mar 2010 1:18 PM
KATONGO CHRIS. BETTER YOU GO BACK TO DENMARK THAN COMING TO RSA, NO GUYS. OR JOIN SINKALA,BETTER OF THAN KUVUTIKA MU DIVISION 10, JUST BECAUSE MULI KU EUROPE
Seen from afar on Wed, 17th Mar 2010 2:34 PM
We on the blog have done allot of brainstorming in the past. For me i have to emphasize that when a Zambian is abroad, culturally, they can be a long way from home and there is nothing wrong with that considering we as Zambians don’t ignore that fact! If you are West African in France you can fit right in because of the language and big community that exists. Don’t underestimate the difference it can make, i don’t care how strong an individual is, it can be hard if you aren’t prepared. This must be acknowledged and clubs endeavor to integrate players well!!! You’ll all remember the Znbc news reports we used to get about how Kalusha was fitting in PSV and efforts they made, and i’m sure if you ask Charles Musonda he can tell you the same of his experience. You could see Brondby took special care of Chris and you can see that reflected in his success there.
The financial troubles Bielefeld are having are not down to Chris.. I feel Kalabas frustration with his time at Braga, imagine signing for a club and being loaned out 3 times, i don’t know the ins and outs, but it seems wires crossed and communication broke down in getting Kalaba to Egypt. I can see Kalaba just wants to fit in and play but has not been allowed to at Braga… Sure discipline and strength of character come in to play amongst other things, but i feel foreign clubs have to really know and want to sign our boys in order for it to work. Have a need for them, otherwise it doesn’t matter which player they sign Zambian or not, if they can’t empower players then it’s there problem.
You can see this has been an issue for Felix, Stophira and Kalaba. We have a style of playing that you see when the national team plays that is unique in Africa and i believe unless the clubs that want to sign our players don’t appreciate that, the unique abilities and qualities of each, then they are missing out. It can be hard to then turn the player he is for us into the he can be for you, converting it to suit a European outfit can be tricky. I think this the problem Felix specially had and is having. When he put’s on the Zambian shirt, he knows he is appreciated and what is expected and at Can he would have been huge had been playing regularly.
Seen from afar on Wed, 17th Mar 2010 2:38 PM
The Njobvu video links needs clips from Chan put into it.
Uncle Bobs on Wed, 17th Mar 2010 2:42 PM
@Seen from afar
Agreed mudala!
Positive thinking ..aka Awe on Wed, 17th Mar 2010 4:00 PM
@Seasoned Soccer fan-USA
lol, this article is funny. So this ‘young man’ finished school in 2006 at age 12. Then he moved from club to club… I guess Karma is coming into play here because if he was above 18yrs old he would be at White Harte lane right now with no issues with his transfer.
Justice Kafusha on Wed, 17th Mar 2010 4:43 PM
Most of our players are not ambitious and want to climb the tree from the leaves, which cannot work. I have spoken to some Zambian chaps who were seeing Chris in Denmark privately and should say they were disappointed with his way of reasoning and I totally understand them. Just look at the reasons Chris gave for leaving BIF and you will make conclusions. Chris left because BIF bought more strikers and as such Chris was not sure of being a regular. I did not understand him because for many African players coming to Europe it can take over 6 months before they can even be considered for the starting lineup. Chris came and went direct into the starting 11, ok sometimes he started on the bench but he at least had a chance to establish himself in many games
To me Chris is very satisfied with what he has achieved so far to an extent that we should not expect anything more than this. How did Kalu and Charles manage to soldier on? Are they not Zambians? Ambitions, they had ambitions. Most of our current players have no ambitions, lower targets of what they want to achieve makes things worse. And by the way they are not the first ones, as we have other examples like Johnstone Bwalya, Stone Nyirenda and M’siska who never went beyond the second division in Switzerland and Belgium respectively.
The only player representing us and flying high at the moment is Jacob Mulenga. I think umwenso wa lichilamo few ku ma Zambian players. The only brave guy I see is Mbola and Mayuka, these if given a chance they will not disappoint
I hope we see more new players this season mwe
Seen from afar on Wed, 17th Mar 2010 5:49 PM
Yes Justice, Jacob has taken to Europe like a duck to water… He did his time in France, to then become an integral member of Chateauroux, during that last season with Berri he helped lead the team back to division one and surely that’s what inspired Utrecht to sign him. You can see now the respect his manager has for him, Jacob knows how to respond even if the going gets tough.
I hear what you are saying about ambition and i agree it can be an issue. If you look at Kalaba for example, i can’t say he doesn’t have ambition though, where you keep getting sent here and there it must distracting. But still he must find a way to make it work.
Seasoned Soccer fan-USA on Wed, 17th Mar 2010 6:39 PM
@Positive thinking ..aka Awe
Good call. But age will manifest in his legs very soon and he will not be 16. It very possible that he can finish school at 12 if started school when he was 1yr old.
Justice Kafusha on Wed, 17th Mar 2010 8:34 PM
As for kalaba there is no doubt he is Zambias best player, but I think his club Braga is frustrating him. Let this useless club release him so that he can be a free agent and clubs will come for him. Braga are waisting kalaba’s progress
Cheers brother and stay well
mose on Wed, 17th Mar 2010 10:30 PM
http://watchzambiansoccer.com/
Whisper on Thu, 18th Mar 2010 12:20 AM
Hi all,
Interesting comments from you. If you’ll permit I want to ask a couple of questions that have left me confused having read the Mbola article from The Post. Maybe you guys might be able to help me?
1. When did Elijah Chileshe become Mbola’s agent/manager? Does he have documentation to prove this is the case? As a club administrator, this is actually against FIFA rules as it presents a serious conflict of interest.
2. Chileshe is saying that Emma was forced to sign a contract in Armenia. Didn’t he accompany the boy there?
3. Chileshe in one sentence says that the boy can’t have a contract with Pyunik because he is under 17. Yet he the same chap trying to flog the young man to Tottenham, isn’t Mbola still listed as a 16 year old? This doesn’t make sense to me and perhaps Mr Chileshe needs to check his reasoning.
Winza Sichali on Thu, 18th Mar 2010 9:33 AM
He’s got Pound Sterling signs in his eyes, hence this reasoning.
Big Steve from SA on Thu, 18th Mar 2010 11:40 AM
I think we need to at times also advise our boys on the value of patience. Our boys are way to impatient to play 1st team soccer. It just does not work that way and the ones who eventually succeed are those that were patient. I believe had Felix stuck it out at Renes he would be playing 1st team football in the French premiership now. Its his lack of patience and at times us fans telling him if they dont play him he should move, now look were he is, bench warming in Africa. Was it not better to bench warm in France and work hard to 1st team spot even if it took two seasons?? I like Sakuwaha’s attitude. There is no rush and he has very well accepted that to make first team he will have to work his way up the ladder even if it meant not playing Afcon.
Braga are not wasting Kalabas time, but if this lad is showing completely no patience then he will end up signed at Zanaco or Zesco for all his talent. He is very good and one of the best we have at the moment but for us to think he is good enough to just fit in anywere will be silly of us. He failed to hold down a spot in France, he even failed trials at Sundowns here in the PSL, so for us to just elevate his talent to that of all the players that are holding down 1st team spots at Braga would be to a certain extent wrong. Talent as good as Chris Eagles could never hold down a first team spot at Manu and because of that was very much for the idea of being loaned out. Now his career is slowly sky rocketing, had he been Zambian we would have said Sir Alex is a fool and the boy should just move on.
Seen from afar on Thu, 18th Mar 2010 12:57 PM
Big Steve, point taken, good points.
Positive thinking ..aka Awe on Thu, 18th Mar 2010 4:08 PM
@Big Steve from SA
Ba Steve kwena you have hit the nail on the head. Braga are in key position for a champions league slot right now, without Kalaba!!! We have to understand the sort of competition these guys are against at their clubs and that they need to be patient aswell as put in the work.
jc on Thu, 18th Mar 2010 5:28 PM
How can we say Braga is frustrating Kalaba. This boy spent a full year at Nice in France. he was sent back to Zambia. There are some fundemental issues with Zambian players surely.
Justice Kafusha on Thu, 18th Mar 2010 6:46 PM
Why did Braga buy him in the first place? Was to be loaning him from one club to another? Why buy someone you can not use
Positive thinking ..aka Awe on Thu, 18th Mar 2010 9:50 PM
@Justice Kafusha
Justice c’mon now. You know that teams change all the time sometimes the managerial changes affect who plays in the first team, other times guys just hit their form or maybe its team dynamics. Kalaba was bought because he had potential… nomba the club has other performers who happen to be the reason the club was on top of the table. Kalaba was sent on loan so that he could mature, nomba he has been acting up.
Asking why did you buy me in the first place is the same thing that is making these guys sit in Zambia drinking opeque beer rather than going to fulfill their contracts. Look at Samuel Etoo, that boy was at Real Madrid in the reserve and sent on loan to Mallorca where he became so impressive… ku Barcelona how many seasons did we hear the coach say Etoo was not needed… he did his talking through his performances …. Our players are carrying that same “why did you buy me in the first place mentality” this is why they act up. Patience and Perserverance is what is needed… Kalaba should be shining in Egypt right now… 6 months is not a long time especially compared to the rest of your life not being able to play in Europe again
Matafwali on Fri, 19th Mar 2010 7:18 AM
@Positive thinking ..aka Awe
You could not have picked a better illustration than the life of Samuel Eto’o. He is the best example of a player who could have easily been discouraged and disgruntled by his situation and yet he made the best of his situation. Someone needs to tell that to Kalaba. Whatever his reasons, he is on the wrong side of this debate.
Justice Kafusha on Fri, 19th Mar 2010 9:47 AM
@Positive thinking ..aka Awe
While I appreciate your line of thinking I should say that I am not supporting Kalaba staying away from his club. However I do not see how a loan move to Zamalek could have helped him either. Yes Samuel Eto’o played for the reserves at Madrid and sent to Mallorca, but do not tell me he was not frustrated, he was and that is why he snubbed Madrid when they recalled him and wanted to extend his contract and instead he signed for Barcelona
Braga loaned Kalaba to a second division team where he was a success, they Braga recalled him with a view to using him, what happened they decide to send him to another first division club without giving him chances to prove himself at their own club, He goes to this club and falls out of favour. Kalaba goes to AFCON and performs very well, what do Braga do, another loan move to Zamalek. For real do you guys expect this boy not to be frustrated? From the way I saw him play at AFCON, kalaba could play for many teams in Europe. They should sold him in the January transfer window or have his contract terminated if they think he is not good enough. I am sure after Zamalek they were going to loan him to another club. How does a club loan you out 3 times? It does not make sense to me
Braga should be honest and tell Kalaba that they can not use him rather all these games being played. I do not ofany player who has been bought and loaned out 3 times without the player reacting
I know we can not agree on everything but my fingers are pointing at Braga, just like I feel Kalaba should travelled to Portugal to make his feelings known
Justice Kafusha on Fri, 19th Mar 2010 9:49 AM
I do not know of
Gerald kaf on Fri, 19th Mar 2010 10:07 AM
kalaba ukuice fya kwaliwama pliz just go brag sort out your problems.things are not always straight in life sometimes we face challenges but should strengh you to act in the positive way and move on in life just like etoo did.
Positive thinking ..aka Awe on Fri, 19th Mar 2010 3:09 PM
@Justice Kafusha
While I understand the frustration and I see your point as in Braga really should get their act together and decide whether or not they need the player. True these loan moves are a bit much, especially if its about player development… teams sometimes use these loan moves to lower their expenses rather than paying a player to sit in the reserves he is loaned out and partially paid by the club he is loaned to. Braga should have loaned Kalaba back to that second division team at least he would have gotten first team football.
In essence this is what football is about, and coaches and owners play a balancing act and sometimes some players fall off or are kept in the back burner. There are no easy roads to greatness, and we can’t blame clubs or club coaches for doing what they have to do in order to deliver.
Justice Kafusha on Fri, 19th Mar 2010 3:58 PM
@Positive thinking ..aka Awe
Thanks for a good debate, we will and see what will happen. I hear Mbola is still in Zambia as well
Cheers
tino on Sat, 20th Mar 2010 3:25 PM
Stil 0-0 here at nchanga stadium