'Stylish' Roan United

The Legacy of Collins Mbesuma: A Striking Tale of Goals and Tenacity
By Samson Mulambya Bagba | November 23, 2023

Zambia’s footballing legacy is rich with stories of resilience and skill, and among its celebrated players stands Collins Mbesuma. Born on February 3, 1984, in Luanshya, Mbesuma’s journey encapsulates the essence of Zambian football, blending personal narratives with the broader context of the sport.

Mbesuma’s footballing lineage is rooted in his father, Francis Kajiya, a former midfielder for Zambian clubs Green Buffaloes FC and Ndola United FC, as well as the national team. Despite being raised by his stepfather, Mbesuma adopted the surname that would become synonymous with goal-scoring prowess.

Debuting for Zambia in 2003, Mbesuma quickly became a key figure in the under-23 squad, contributing to their bid for the Athens Olympics. His standout performances attracted the attention of South African club Kaizer Chiefs, marking the beginning of his international club career.

Joining Kaizer Chiefs in 2004, Mbesuma’s impact was immediate, averaging a goal every other game. His crowning achievement came in 2005 when he was named the PSL Player of the Season after a remarkable 35-goal season. This success sparked interest beyond South Africa, with Portsmouth securing his services in 2005.

Mbesuma’s time at Portsmouth was short-lived, leading to loan spells with CS Marítimo in Portugal. Challenges, including work permit issues, punctuated his European adventure. Returning to South Africa, Mbesuma continued to showcase his goal-scoring prowess with clubs like Mamelodi Sundowns and Mpumalanga Black Aces.

His return to the South African scene culminated in Mbesuma reaching a milestone in September 2016, becoming the fifth player in the PSL-era to score 100 league goals. This achievement highlighted his enduring impact on the domestic football stage.

Beyond his club exploits, Mbesuma left an indelible mark on the Zambian national team, scoring 22 goals in 65 appearances. His contributions reflected not just individual prowess but also the challenges faced by Zambian players navigating the complexities of international football.

Collins Mbesuma’s career, marked by highs and lows, stands as a storied testament to determination and a genuine passion for the beautiful game. His journey serves as an inspiration, reminding aspiring footballers that the path to success is as compelling as the goals scored on the pitch.

Breaking News: Former Chipolopolo International Rainford Kalaba retires from football

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MWAIMWENA 1-0 ROAN UNITED

Faz National Division One Play Offs

• Match Day One Results

📌 Compiled By Joshua Kutela Machona

⚫ Group A
Nakonde Town Council 0-1 Mpulungu Youth
Anthony Chanda X

Chipata United 2-1 Luena Buffaloes
Brian Sakala X2 | Bizzeck Banda X

⚫ Group B

Roan United 2-1 Riverplate
Patrick Zyambo X Andrew Kashindi X | Francis Mwenya X

Young Prison Leopards 2-1 Mwaimwena Strikers
Mapoma Mwewa X Boniface Kashiwa X | Davies Mwansa X

Son to Nicholas Bwalya popularly known as KOKOLE writes

"Today's ROAN UNITED VICTORY reminded me of my Late father Nicholas Bwalya "KOKOLE" former Roan United Striker and coach. MHSRIP"

Words from our coach on this final game!

"We've worked hard as a team throughout the season & this is a defining moment for our seasonal objective of qualifying the legendary Roan United Football Club to the National League."
Coach Syabeene

The Tactical Mastermind behind teams success

FT
Power Dynamo 0-1 Roan

ROAN UNITED ARE GSB CUP CHAMPIONS

‘STYLISH’ Roan United were yesterday crowned champions of the Gal Sport Betting – Zambia Cup after they beat Ndola side Zambezi Portland at Arthur Davies Stadium in Kitwe.

The legendary side managed a 2 – 0 win to walk away with K22,000 as winners of the coveted provincial cup.

Chibesa Changwe and Wilfred Chitembo scored a goal apiece for Roan to end their 27 – year – long wait for a piece of silverware.

In the women category, Nkana Queens beat Chalube Angels 3–0.

•
THE KAFWANAYO STORY

Written by Mr Brian Mulenga

There is an everlasting legend in Zambian soccer circles of a Zambian goalkeeper who died in goal defending it against a Congolese team using supernatural forces. The story goes he made one last brilliant save just before the final whistle and fell dead clutching the ball in his last gasp save.

I first heard the story in 1974 as a very small boy and this was because of the series of games Zambia and Zaire played in 1973 and 1974. Zambia nearly went to the World Cup and lost a home and away series 3-2 Zambia won 2-1 in Ndola at Dag Hammarskjold stadium only to lose 2 - 0 in the final game with the winners going to the 1974 World Cup. They met again in the 1974 Africa Cup final drawing 2-2 in the first game before Zaire prevailed 2-0 in the replay.

The Congolese were shocked at how good the Zambians had become and were impressed by the two Zambian goalkeepers Joseph Chomba and Emmanuel Mwape and remarked how much Zambian goalkeepers had improved.

However this talk revived the Kafwanayo legend. Well the truth is someone just made it up it never happened.

There never was such an occurrence. The story dates back to the 1950s. Zambian teams began playing teams from the DRC as early as 1943.

However, the Congolese were far superior and the scorelines were incredibly embarrassing. Score like 12-0, 9-1 were common. In fact the heaviest defeat the Zambia national team has suffered in a game is a 10-1 defeat to then African champions Congo in 1968.

Players had all sorts of excuses for these defeats. Embarrassed goalkeepers began to make wild claims of them lions running towards them as well knives and locomotives when Congolese strikers shot at goal. The claim was to try and stop these apparitions would mean certain death.

One Zambian goalkeeper stood out. From Luanshya, came a courageous goalkeeper known as Yotham Mabange. Big, tall and agile. Yotham Mabange was the only goalkeeper who kept scorelines respectable.

Profiled in the Mining Mirror in 1977 I had a cutting from the issue profiling Yotham Mabange and in the picture that was the center piece he made a brilliant two-fisted clearance from a high ball.

Youtham Mabange was warned that when they played against a Congolese side he would face a lot of juju and magic. He swore he would die defending his goal whether he saw a lion or locomotive or spear flying towards him in goal. Nka fwa nayo he vowed in Bemba.
Sure enough with Mabange in goal in the late 1950s and early 1960s the scorelines became much more respectable and the margins palatable losing 2-1 or 3:0 was far better than the cricket scores Zambian teams faced when they went north to the Congo.
That is the genesis of the Kafwanayo story.
Yotham Mabange stood his ground and played very well.

He did not die between the goal posts.

Credit: Desderius Chuumbu •

Chiti Chitundu writes....

Now, this was Zambia vs Gabon 1995 .Roald Paulsen Ashios Melu and Benjamin Bwalya were on the bench! A very emotional and tense game it was. Why do I say so. Gabon was the place we're the Zambia national team died and the referee that most people felt robbed us of our maiden world cup appearance came from Gabon. So the Gabonese team felt Zambians have a natural and permanent hate for them. Match day! Sunday morning FAZ officials stated that Zambias opponents had not arrived.🤔. This caused anxiety on the fans that had already started filling the stadium. They only arrived about 2pm,had their meals on the plane and headed straight to the stadium. The game was tough and looked like it was headed for a draw untill captain of the side Kalusha took things personal and beat a cluster of defenders to head home the winner! Zambia 1 Gabon 0. Gabonese side we're treated with a true warm Zambian hospitality. Their delegation leader admitted Zambia was a peaceful loving country. Times remembered Chitundu⚽🇿🇲⚽

By Chitu Ian Chomba

It's not a fluke that stylish Roan United FC is still at the helm,the very top of the FAZ Copperbelt First Division League,the club has acquired quality players

What's just needed now is massive reinvestment from the sponsors led by Luanshya Copper Mines.

We also need fresh new investment Partnerships from other Corporate Entities and Business Persons to Sustain and Retain this top Zambian Club to the Zambian Super League.

For over 10 years,the Luanshya people have been starved of Top Class Football Entertainment.

In Case We have forgotten,Stylish Roan has a Rich History in Contributing to the Growth of Football in Zambia even at the National Team.

Renowned Zambian Players,the like of;
Collins Mbesuma,Noah Chivuta,Hilary Makasa and John Lungu among Others have Donned Our National Colors and have Represented Zambia at a very high level across Africa and World over, therefore,We need to Produce and Contribute Fresh Talent to the National Team.

For Example; Luanshya Born Collins Mbesuma and Noah Chivuta Were Gold Medalists When Zambia were Crowned African Champions in 2012.

I Personally implore every Football Loving Roanian and Stylish Roan United FC Fan to Show Solidarity and Support to Our Team and Management.

Roan Awina Ichungulo

"We are White En Black, Stylish"

🤍🖤🤍🖤🤍🖤

*COPPERBELT PROVINCIAL DIVISION ONE WEEK 13 RESULTS*

1. *Roan United* 3-0 Lubambe Community

2. *Copperbelt Buffaloes* 2-1 Young Nchanga Rangers

3. *Ndola United* 1-0 Rainbow Rangers

4. *Chingola Police Blue Star* 4-0 Chambishi Youth

5. *Young Power Dynamos* 2-1 Kalulushi Modern Stars

6. Quatro - Kitwe 1-2 *Mufulira Blackpool*

7. Police Blue Eagles 0-0 Young Nkana

8. Konkola Mine Police 0-0 Zambezi Portland

9. *Chingola Leopards* 3-0 Chifubu Bullets
*Walk over Chifubu bullets failed to travel*

Compile by: Three lines bola yamu zed

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kalulushi Modern Stars 1-2 Roan United
ll ⚽Andrew Kashindi x2

APPRECIATION POST

KENNETH 'BUBBLE' MALITOLI, NKANA FC LEGEND

Born 20 August 1966 is a Zambian former footballer. Nicknamed 'Bubble', Malitoli is one of Zambia's most decorated players and was Zambian league top scorer in three (3) consecutive seasons, as well as top scorer in Tunisia in 1993 and 1994.

He is regarded as Nkana Football Club's most prolific striker after Bernard Chanda. He won the CAF Champions League with Tunisian club Espérance in 1994 and featured at four CAN tournaments in 1990, 1994, 1996 and 1998.

CLUB CAREER
Malitoli was still a schoolboy when he made his debut in the 1985 season in a star-studded Rhokana side which had by then been renamed Nkana Red Devils. The centre of Nkana's attack featured Zambian stars Jericho Shinde and Michael Chabala so the teenaged Malitoli had to be content with a place on the wing, fighting it out with Jerry Kaoma, Beston Chambeshi, Golden Kazika and James Jengela for the two wide slots.

He won his first piece of silverware that year when Nkana pipped Power Dynamos to the league title. He would go on to win four more Zambian league championships in a trophy-laden career with Nkana who dominated the Zambian soccer scene for more than a decade. Malitoli's elder brother Mordon also featured for Nkana as a defender.

Malitoli won the Zambian league’s top goal scorer award in 1989 and repeated the feat twice more in succession in 1990 and 1991

FAZ NATIONAL LEAGUE WEEK 9 GAMES PLAYED TODAY: 22/10/2022

1. Atletico FC 1-1 City Of Lusaka

2. Konkola Blades FC 1-0 Dynamos FC

3. Kafue Eagles FC 0-0 Barts FC

4. Indeni FC 0-0 YGBFC

5. Aguila FC 1-1 Mutondo Stars FC

6. Mpulungu Harbour 1-0 Livingston Pirates FC

7. Kitwe United FC 0-1 Jumulo FC

SUNDAY

8. Mufulira Wanderers vs Trident FC

9. Zesco Malaiti Rangers FC vs Kafue Celtics FC

Results compiled by:
Patrick Mwanza

FT
Roan 3-0 Chifubu

BREAKING; FIFA WORLD CUP 2023 ZAMBIA 🇿🇲 DRAWN IN GROUP C WITH GIANTS SPAIN 🇪🇸!

Spain 🇪🇸

Costa Rica 🇨🇷

Zambia 🇿🇲

Japan 🇯🇵

What do you make of the draw?

Do the Copper Queens stand a chance of making it out of the group?

ON THIS DAY THE MAN WITH MORE GOALS THAN GERD MULLER WAS BORN

On this day the 22nd of October in 1947 Godfrey "Ucar" Chitalu was born, He was a Zambian 🇿🇲 footballer who played as a forward and is widely regarded as the greatest Zambian Footballer.

He was voted as Zambian 🇿🇲 footballer of the Year for 5-times and in 2006 he was also selected by CAF as one of the best 200 African footballers of the past 50 years.

The Football Association of Zambia claimed that Chitalu scored more than 100 goals in all competitions in 1972, more than Gerd Müller's total in the same year and Lionel Messi's total in 2012, both of which are often referred to by journalist as "world records". The research was presented in the year 2012 after Lionel Messi broke the alleged world record of Gerd Müller. Nevertheless, a FIFA spokesman declared that an official FIFA world record had never existed as they did not keep track of domestic competitions.

Upon retirement, Chitalu took to coaching and was in charge of the Zambia national team when the entire squad perished in a plane crash off the coast of Gabon on 27 April 1993.

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Blackpool 0-1 Roan

ZAMBIA 🇿🇲
Look out for the Collins Mbesuma backed Copperbelt Youth Soccer Tournament for Under 15 and U18 boys to be held in mid June at the Kafubu Stadium in Luanshya. For more details contact: Tel +26096455158 or email: [email protected]

Collins Mbesuma Academy, Moulding the Future Stars of Tomorrow 🙌🏿🙏🏿🇿🇲🙂⭐

NEW SIGNING DURING THE JANUARY WINDOW

1. Kevin Cyrus Banda from Gomes FC
2. Champo Musangulule from Bangweulu FC
3. Lloyd Kabaye from Miseshi FC
4. Innocent Munamoomba from Jumulo FC
5. Innocent MUTALE from Precem FC
6. Carlos Kaoma from Police College
7. Francis Makasa from Trident FC
8. Rueben Muloongo from Kabwata Dynamos FC
9. John Musonda from Mayukwayukwa FC
10. Kenny Zaza Ndhlovu from Chambishi FC
11. Rabban Kamfwa from Mumbwa Medics
12. Mally KASONGO from Mufulira Wanderers FC
#

FT
Chingola Police 1-0 Roan United

𝐌𝐖𝐀𝐏𝐄 𝐌𝐈𝐓𝐈, 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐑𝐄𝐂𝐎𝐑𝐃 𝐓𝐎𝐏 𝐒𝐂𝐎𝐑𝐄𝐑 𝐅𝐎𝐑 𝐙𝐀𝐌𝐁𝐈𝐀𝐍 𝐏𝐋𝐀𝐘𝐄𝐑𝐒 𝐈𝐍 𝐄𝐔𝐑𝐎𝐏𝐄

Mwape Miti is rated as one of the most lethal strikers to have played for Power Dynamos and Zambia. The player nicknamed ‘Jagger’ was prolific in front of goal. A complete striker in his prime, Miti possessed sublime ball juggling skills and packed a powerful shot in either of his feet.

‘Jagger’ joined Power Dynamos from Mulungushi Circuit Chiefs at the close of the 1994 season. In 1995, Miti played in the African Cup of Champions Club (the modern day CAF Champions League) when Power beat Simba SC of Tanzania via Melvin ‘Vinco’ Mwila’s wonder lone strike at Arthur Davies Stadium.

Mwape Miti holds a 26 year record in the Zambian premier league for the most number of goals scored in a space of 4 days since 1995. He scored 4 goals in Power Dynamos’ 8-2 humbling of Zesco Utd on a Saturday. Yes! You read the score line correctly. It was Power 8 and Zesco 2. The following Wednesday, Miti would go on to score another 4 goals as Power beat Ndola Utd, 4 - 1. Miti delivered a football masterclass by scoring a record, 8 goals in a space of 4 days. Alongside his other qualities, Miti was an overhead kick specialist. In one match involving Power Dynamos and Zamsure in 1996, ‘Jagger’ executed a spectacular overhead kick. The goal 🥅 post was left shaking in what seemed like the goal post performing an act of worship to the goal scoring machine, Miti.

In 1995, Mwape Miti was on the verge of winning the top scorer award when a long term injury sidelined him. He led the Zambian top scorer charts on 18 goals despite being out of action for several weeks before being pipped to the award by former Konkola Blades and Zambia striker, Dennis ‘Chesa Mpama’ Lota.

The former Zambia U-23 striker was also referred to as the Zambian George Weah in comparison to the 1995 Liberian world footballer of the year.

Mwape Miti is the record leading goal scorer in Europe for Zambian players. He scored a staggering 109 goals for Danish side Odense Boldklub(OB) during his 9 year stay at the club from 1997 to 2006. In 2012, he was selected in OB’s all-time top-11 and he travelled to Denmark for the ceremony.

Mwape Miti is capped 33 times for Zambia. He won bronze with Zambia at the 1996 AFCON in South Africa and was part of the 2000 AFCON team that was coached by former Nkana and Power Dynamos coach, Ben Pabili Bamfuchile ‘Viv Anderson.’