9 times league winner KalenGoal to retire at the end of the season

Zesco United striker Winstone Kalengo is set to retire at the end of the 2021/22 season, the ZamFoot Crew understands.

The 36 year old striker has had a stellar career which has seen him win multiple league titles as well two golden boot awards in a career spanning 18 years.

Kwimba as he is known among his peers in Kasama has only featured for 4 clubs.

Simataa Simataa signed him in early 2000s before he made a short trip to Sunset Stadium from Lusaka’s Mtendere township.

In 2003, he made his debut for Zanaco and 3 years later he won his first golden boot award with 16 goals.

In that season (2006), he scored a total of 28 goals in all competitions.

After winning three league titles (2005, 2006 & 2009), Kalengo left the bankers and joined Zesco United.

In his first spell, he won two league titles (2014, 2015).

His 18 goals in the 2015 season actually earned Zega Mambo the league title.

Kalengo was named Zambian Footballer of the Year and top scorer at the 2015 league awards

After returning from brief spell in Congo Brazzaville with AFC Leopards, Kalengo has gone to win 4 league titles at Zesco United.

Despite establishing himself as one of the most feared strikers in the league , Kalengo struggled to hold down a regular national team pace.

In the early to mid 2000s, he had stiff competition from Edward ‘Bubble’ Kangwa, Nsofwa ‘Milla’ Chaswe, Rotson ‘Kizo’ Kilambe, Dudley Fichite and Harry Milanzi.

Later on James Chamanga, Collins Mbesuma, Christopher Katongo, Jacob Mulenga, Dube Phiri, Rodger Kola and Emmanuel Mayuka were all ahead of him in the pecking order.

Many will wonder how he was not part of that 2012 African Cup of Nations winning squad.

Actually Kalengo has never been to a major tournament.

His only run as a main striker at national team was around 2015 when George Lwandamina was in-charge and formed a lethal partnership with Collins Mbesuma in the African Cup of Nations qualifiers.

When the chance to go to a tournament [CHAN 2016] came, a move abroad arrived and Kalengo couldn’t turn down an opportunity to sign for Congolese giants AFC Leopards.

In 2015, one of the true legends of the Zambian game earned a nickname KalenGoal from the ZamFoot Crew for his goalscoring exploits for club and country.