A befitting farewell for a Zesco great

On Saturday Zesco United clinched their sixth Barclays Cup title under the newly branded ABSA Cup flag thanks to a dominant performance that saw them outclass ten man Sensational zanaco beating them 4-1.

The afternoon was however all about star forward Lazarus Kambole who was playing his last game at Levy Mwanawasa Stadium. Kambole will be moving to South Africa to join PSL giants Kaizer Chiefs.

Kambole who is one of the most treasured players by the Zesco United fans finally put an end to six year-stint at Levy Mwanawasa Stadium after penning a three year deal with the Soweto giants Amakhosi.

The limelight was on him to see what he would do in his final game at Levy a stadium that has grown accustomed to witnessing the brilliance of the 25-year-old. The fans know when at home more often than not Lazarus Kambole will score celebrate it using one of his simple, unique but exciting way of celebrating.

The former Konkola Blades striker first set up Jesse Jackson Were in the 12th minute for the opener. He was again involved in the third goal as John Ching’andu restored Zesco United’s two-goal advantage after Ernest Mbewe had pulled one back but the fans were still waiting for his last goal at Levy Mwanawasa Stadium.

The magical moment finally arrived in the 76th minute, Anthony Akumu threaded a perfect ball into the pass of Kambole who took just one touch to control it before unleashing a thunderous shot beyond Toaster Nsabata in the Zanaco goal.

After the match, Lazarus Kambole was crowned man of the match, a deserved award. After receiving his award he then went around the stadium saying his goodbyes and the fans treated him to a standing ovation in what was an emotional farewell for both the player and the Zesco faithful.

His coach George Lwandamina is confident Kambole wi make it in the PSL if he continues to work as hard as he does.

“Him winning the man of the match is a good record. He played well despite having already clinched a deal with Kaizer Chiefs and he tried to help the team. Am sure if he continues to play the same way the sky will not be the limit, ” Lwandamina told the ZamFoot Crew.

The ABSA Cup final was his last game at Levy Mwanawasa Stadium and may as well be his last game in the green and Orange of Zesco United. A ZamFoot Crew source close to the club has revealed that he may not be available for the Super League play-off slated for this Saturday at Heroes Stadium.

“He may not be available for the league playoff despite him being willing and eager to play. There are some issues but hopefully he will be available,” The source said.

Whether he will be available on Saturday for the League coronation or not it is clear the club will miss his services. The fans can only look back to his six years at Zesco United and cherish the moments he made them proud.

His career at Zesco United started slow but finally picked up in 2017 and was awarded as the most improved and most valuable player at the end of year awards. His best year was however 2018 which saw him make history scoring the fastest hat-trick in the history of the CAF Champions league.

THE DAY HE MADE HISTORY

Kambole on Saturday, August, 18th 2018 scored three goals in five minutes in Zesco United’s three-nil win over Mbabane Swallows to ink his name in the history books as the player with the fastest hat-trick recorded in the history of the CAF Champions League.

The five ‘minutes of heaven’ started in the 38th minute as the Zesco talisman finished off a rebound from close range after his initial shot was saved by Sandanezwe Mathebula following a good interchange of passes. Two minutes later the 25-year-old striker struck again getting his second following a defensive error at the back for Swallows who allowed the Zesco United forward a chance to pick up a loose ball at the edge of the box which he finished off perfectly.

Kambole completed his hat-trick two minutes before the break flicking on a pass from midfield to beat his marker before chipping Mathebula who was a long way from his goal. Kamaole’s hat-trick smashed the European record set by former French striker Bafétimbi Gomis.

Gomis, during his time at Lyon, set the record for the fastest Champions League hat-trick that he scored in 8 minutes against Dinamo Zagreb in a group stage match.

On 1st July, He will officially become a Kaizer Chiefs player and will start a new journey in the PSL. The Amakhosi fans are impatient and very demanding hence Kambole will have to hit the ground running and match the expectations that are hanging on his shoulders.