ZamFoot Mixer: Ranking Chipolopolo Stars’ European journey in the last two decades
Many young and upcoming footballers dream of a successful football career in Europe. They relish the thought of rubbing shoulders with the world’s elite players and the opportunity to showcase their skills on a global stage. Added to this, the thought of signing lucrative contracts is an extra incentive that lures global football talents to European leagues.
In the Zambian football context, the case is no different. Over the years, several Chipolopolo Stars have made their way to Europe.
Notably, the rise of the ‘Bola Na Lesa’ class of 2017 U20 Chipolopolo Stars in Europe is well documented. They have taken the European game by storm with standout performances. It is no surprise that they have received glaring glances of admiration from Europe’s top clubs.
Nowadays, a day hardly goes without reading about ‘red-hot’ Chipolopolo striker Patson Daka and midfield general Enock ‘Computer’ Mwepu being linked to a top European club. The Duo has come to symbolize the pride of Zambian footballers in Europe, with their rise to stardom well documented.
In this feature, we take a close look at other prominent Chipolopolo Stars to have graced the European game in the last two decades. We analyze each player’s impact on their respective club in terms of appearances and silver-wear won. The players are ranked in alphabetical order according to their names.
Andrew Sinkala
Sinkala, The Centre-back captained the Zambia U-20 team at the 1999 FIFA World Youth Championship that took place in Nigeria. His overall performances, including scoring Zambia’s solitary goal in the 1 – 5 thumping at the hands of the Brazilians led by Ronaldinho didn’t go unnoticed. In the same year, the former Nchanga Rangers man was prized by German heavyweights, Bayern Munich. After moving from Zambia, he spent 15 years playing in Germany starting with the Bayern Munich II, the reserve team of Bayern Munich. He made his only senior team appearance on Sinkala spent most of his time with Bayern Munich II, the reserve team.
On 11 December 11, 1999, Sinkala made his one-and-only senior team appearance in a match Bayern won 3-0 away against Hansa Rostock.
In 2000 he won the German Bundesliga with Bayern. Between 1999 and –2000, he won the German League Cup twice.
Sinkala spent half of the 2000/2001 season with Munich’s reserves, campaigning in the Regionalliga (third tier-league).
In early 2001, Sinkala moved to FC Köln, where he joined Moses Sichone. He made his Köln debut on 3rd February in a 1-0 defeat against Freiburg. During the 2001/2002 season, he played in eight8 matches and scored two2 goals, but the club from Cologne was relegated to the second-tier..tier.
Sinkala and team only spent one season in the second tier and got promoted to the Bundesliga in 2003. However, after a single season in the top-flight, Köln suffered relegation again before reappearing in the 2005/2006 Bundesliga season.
He scored on four occasions in He played a total of 83 match appearances and notched 4 goals for Köln.
In the summer of 2006, Sinkala became a player of another second tier, SC Paderborn 07. On August 13, he played his first game in a goalless stalemate0-0 at the Eintracht Brunswick away. Two years later 2008, Paderborn was relegated to Regionalliga.
During his time at SC Paderborn 07, Sinkala featured 34 times and scored a single goal.
From 2008 to –2012, he played at FC Augsburg. He made his debut on 17 August 17, 2008, in a 2-1 win against FC Nürnberg. After spending 3 seasons in German’s Second tier, Sinkala helped Augsburg win promotion to the Bundesliga in 2011. He featured 72 times and scored 3 goals during his time with Augsburg.
In the later stages of his career, Sinkala played for relatively unknown FC Viktoria Köln and SG Köln-Worringen. He managed a total of 34 appearances without registering a single goal before hanging his boots.
Christopher Katongo
The famed AFCON 2012 winning Chipolopolo captain had an illustrious career.
following after spending three impressive seasons at PSL club side, Jomo Cosmos, the striker signed for a Danish club side, Brøndby IF in January 2007. He quickly became an integral part of the side. He won the Danish Cup during the 20071/08 Season. Over the two seasons spent at Brøndby IF, Katongo managed eleven goals in 44 appearances and scored 11 goals.
In the summer of 2008, it was no surprise that he was quickly snapped by German Bundesliga side, Arminia Bielefeld where he made a total of 61 appearances and scored ten 10 goals.
Later, Katongo joined the Greek side, Skoda Xanthi in 2010. Katongo spent a year at Xanthi. In the year spent at Xanthi, he made 28 appearances and managed two2 goals before joining Henan Jianye in the Chinese Super League.
Altogether Katongo made 133 appearanceappearances and scored 23 goals during his time in Europe.
Chisamba Lungu
Lungu spent a decade playing football in Europe. His European CV spans three football clubs namely Baia Zugdidi, a Georgian club; Ural Yekaterinburg from Russia; and Alanyaspor, a Turkish club.
It was at Ural where he enjoyed much success. Joining Ural in 2010 when they campaigned in the Russian Football National League (Russia’s second-tier league competition), the midfielder helped his team reach new heights. In the 2012/-13 season, Ural won the Russian Football National League and promotion to the Russian Premier League with Chisamba chipping in with 17 appearances and two2 goals. DuringSpending the eight8 seasons at Ural, Chisamba would play his best European football and eventually captain the side.
Throughout his time in Europe, Chisamba made 195 appearances, while netting ten10 goals.
Collins Mbesuma
After a sensational debut season (2004-2005 PSL season) at Kaizer Chiefs in which he scored a record-high 35 goals in a single PSL season, Mbesuma was signed by English Premiership side, Portsmouth. The player nicknamed ‘Ntofontofo’ meaning ‘Something not easy to handle or slippery Hurricane’ by Kaizer Chiefs faithful signed a 3-year contract. Work permit application complications owing to Chipolopolo’s low FIFA rankings at the time led to Mbesuma missing pre-season training. When he linked up with his ‘Pompey’ teammates, the season was well underway. As a result, Mbesuma struggled to settle in. He made only 4 first team substitute appearances.
In the summer of 2006, Mbesuma was loaned to Portuguese outfit, SC Maritimo, where he spent the entire 2006/-2007 season. He managed an improved 23 first-team appearances and seven7 goals.
Deemed a surplus to requirement, Mbesuma was sold to the Turkish side, Bursaspor in the summer of 2007. Shortly after signing for Bursaspor, disciplinary controversy followed when Mbesuma failed to timely return to his base after international duty. The unsuccessful stint ended when Mbesuma mutually terminated his contract with Bursaspor before signing for PSL glamour club, Mamelodi Sundowns.
He managed six6 appearances without any goals in his last European league campaign. curtain closing campaign in Turkey.
Evans Kangwa
On the back of standout performances at NkanaAfter shinning at Nkana, Europe came calling as the speedy striker winger was signed on loan by Israeli club Hapoel Ra’anana. He made his league debut for the club on 13 SeptemberSeptember 2014 in a 4-0 home victory over Hapoel Petah Tikva. About a month later, Kangwa scored his first league goal for Ra’anana in a 2-0 away win over Maccabi Haifa. At the end of the 2014/15, Kangwa made his switch to Ra’anana permanent. He featured on featured 59 occasions times and contributed 15 goal returns at Ra’anana.
A year later, Kangwa was on the move when he signed for the Turkish Süper Lig club Gaziantepspor. He made his debut on 21 August 2016 in a 2-0 away defeat to Gençlerbirliği. Kangwa waited until 1 October, October 2016 to register his first league. He did it in style as his brace and assist propelled Gaziantepspor to a 3-2 victory over Bursasporover Bursaspor. He made a combined 26 appearanceappearances and notched four4 goals at Gaziantepspor.
On 26 August 2017, he transferred to Russian Premier League side, FC Arsenal Tula. Kangwa made his league debut for Tula on 29 September 2017 in a 1-0 home victory over FC Krasnodar. His first goal in the Russian Premier League was scored on 15 October 2017 in a 1-0 away win against Russian giants Zenit Saint Petersburg. He is still on the books of Arsenal Tula.
To date, he has 61 appearances and 12 goals for Arsenal Tula. He has a total of 33 goals in his six years in Europe.
The 2012 AFCON Golden Boot winner was a top-class striker at his prime.
After setting the Zambia league alight with scintillating performances for Kabwe Warriors, the youthful Mayuka joined Israel’s Maccabi Tel Aviv in September 2008. He spent the entire season with the U19s. In the 2009/10 season, he campaigned with the main team. He managed 29 appearances and scored seven7 goals.
On 28 May, May 2010 Mayuka signed a five5-year contract with the Swiss club, BSC Young Boys. He became an instant hit with standout performances in the 2010/11 season. On 1 December 2010, the Kabwe-native scored two goals in the Europa League against Stuttgart in a 4–2 win. On 17 February 2011, he scored a last-minute goal against Russian club FC Zenit Saint Petersburg in the UEFA Europa League match to help his team to a 2–1 home win. He managed a total of 16 goals in 39 appearances across and 16 goals in all competitions.
By the 2011/2012 season, Mayuka was a household name. He managed 33 appearances that season and scored 13 goals.
In August 2012, Mayuka signed for Premier League side Southampton. The move marked the pinnacle of his career. He made his debut as a substitute in a home match against Manchester United on 2 September 2012.
He appeared again as a substitute in a 4–1 victory over Aston Villa, winning a penalty for the fourth goal. On 22 December 2012, he made his first start in a 1–0 loss at home to Sunderland.
With first-team appearances limited at St Mary’s, Mayuka joined French League 1 side, Sochaux on loan for the entire 2013/14 season. He linked up with Hervé Renard, compatriots Stoppila Sunzu and Nathan Sinkala. Despite featuring 25 times, Mayuka only managed five5 goals.
His only competitive goal for the Saints came in a 5–1 victory over Barnsley in the League Cup on 27 August 2013.
Between 2012 and 2015, he made 16 Premier League appearances without a single goal contribution.
On 31 August 2015, Mayuka joined the French Ligue 2 club, FC Metz. The short stint lasted 6 months with Mayuka making 10 appearances and netting twice before he moved to Egyptian giants, Zamalek.
Isaac Chansa
Famously nicknamed ‘Gattuso’ by Chipolopolo faithful, Chansa was a maestro box-to-box midfielder at his best. After eye-catching performances at Orlando Pirates in the PSL, he was quickly snapped up by the Swedish side, Helsingborgs IF (HIF). At HIF he linked up with Swedish legend, Henrik Larsson.
Isaac Chansa stayed at HIF for three seasons (2007-2009) before leaving them to return to Orlando Pirates.
Gattuso made a combined 40 appearances and scored four4 goals during his time at HIF.
When quizzed about his European football career in early 2011, Chansa had this say, “I was very unhappy that I did not find a team in Europe. It was my first choice to stay in Europe and the second was to come back to (Orlando) Pirates”. His second spell at Pirates proved to be very successful as the ‘Buccaneers’ won back-to-back league titles between 2010 and 2012, with Chansa playing a starring role.
Jacob Mulenga
Starting his Football career at Kitwe side Afrisport, Mulenga joined French Ligue 2 club, LB Châteauroux on a four4-year deal. In doing so, Mulenga became the second Zambian in the French professional divisions, after Andrew Tembo who played for Marseille in 1994. Mulenga’s LB Châteauroux career was off to a flying start as he scored a brace on his debut. However, injuries hampered most of his stay in France. He made a total of 109 appearances and scored 27 goals. After three3 seasons, he was loaned to Ligue 1 club Strasbourg, before being signed by Dutch Eredivisie side FC Utrecht.
Despite his time at FC Utrecht been engulfed by injuries, Mulenga was an important member of the team. He made 93 appearances and scored 37 goals. After spending five5 years at Utrecht, Mulenga trekked to Turkey were where he featured Adana Demirspor. His haul of eight8 goals in 15 matches didn’t go unnoticed as he was quickly signed by for Chinese club Shijiazhuang Ever Bright Football Club, six6 months into his stay in after joining the Turkish side.
After spending five5 years in the Chinese Super League, Mulenga returned to The Netherlands to join a second-tier side, Go Ahead Eagles Deventer. He is currently campaigning with them. Has 10 appearances and four4 goals to his name.
He is one of Zambia’s highest scorers of the past two decades in Europe with 72 goals in all competitions and still counting.
Lubambo Musonda
In 2014, Musonda left Power Dynamos to join the Armenian club Ulissses. He made his debut on 27 August 27, 2014, in a 2-0 away win game against Pyunik Yerevan. Lubambo and team finished second in the 2014/15 season Armenian League season. He amassed 13 appearances and scored two2 goals.
In the summer of 2015, Musonda joined Gandzasar Kapan, also an Armenian club. He made his debut on 2 August 2, 2015, in a 1-2 away loss to Szirak Gyumri. During the 2016/17 Armenian Premier League season, Gandzasar Kapan finished second. In the following season, he won the Armenia Cup with Gandzasar. Musonda had become an important member of the team. He made 97 appearances and scored 16 goals.
On 19 January 2019, the wing wizard was signed by Polish side Śląsk Wrocław. At Śląsk, Musonda has occasionally played at right-back in a defensive role. He is still on the books of Śląsk and has featured 47 times without a goal scored.
Moses Sichone
The Mufulira native was a strong defender to reckon with on his day.
Starting at Chambishi, Sichone moved to Brave Nchanga Rangers F.C where he spent three3 seasons. After dominant defensive displays in Nchanga Rangers colors, he was signed by German side FC Köln in 1999. He was part of the FC Köln team that were crowned German 2. Bundesliga champions in the 1999/00 season. After spending five seasons at FC Köln, he joined Alemannia Aachen on 1 July, July 2004. He spent 3 seasons at Alemannia Aachen.
On 1 July, July 2007, Sichone signed for Kickers Offenbach. A year later, he joined VfR Aalen.
After spending ten10 years in the German League Arena, he had a 1-year one-year stint at Cypriot sideGreek Side, AE Pafos. On 1 July, July 2011, Sichone signed for Carl Zeiss Jena before joining FC Bergheim 2000, where he retired in Germany.
Based on data provided by the Transfer market, Sichone has raked a total of 300 appearances and ten 10 goals across his European adventure.
Mwape Miti
Miti is fondly remembered by OB Odense fans for his goal-scoring record.
He joined Odense from Power Dynamos in 1997, less than two seasons after leaving his boyhood club Mulungushi Chiefs. He trekked to the Danish side alongside compatriot Andrew Tembo.
On 27 /July 7, 1997, he made his debut in home goalless draw against AaB. In April 1998, he superbly scored his debut goal as he netted a brace in OB’s 3-2 away loss to Brøndby. Following a poor campaign, OB was relegated at the end of the season.
During the 2001/2002 season, the Zambian sharpshooter managed to score seven 7 goals in 23 matches, and in the following season eleven11 goals in 27 matches.
Miti emerged as Danish League joint top scorer in the 2003/04 season with 19 goals. He was the first Zambian footballer to achieve this fate in Europe. The following season he nearly repeated the heroics when he scored 17 league goals. Over the 10 years at Odense, he scored his way into the hearts of OB fans.
Over the ten years at Odense, he scored his way into the hearts of OB fans. By the end of his OB Odense career, Miti had bagged an unprecedented 109 goals in 246 appearances.
Had he not suffered a career-ending injury in 2006, Miti would probably have scored more goals for OB.
To honor his record, Odense named Miti in their all-time best 11 when the club celebrated its 125 anniversary in 2012.
Stopilla Sunzu
Following towering performances at the heart of Zambia’s defense during the 2007 FIFA U-20 World Cup in Canada, the then 19-year-old was invited for trials at the English side Reading. Unfortunately, work permit complications hindered the move. Sunzu then signed a loan contract for Châteauroux in September 2008. He didn’t play any official match. At the end of the season, he returned to Zanaco FC.
Sunzu waited five 5 years before making his European switch when he left TP Mazembe to join Ligue 1 club Sochaux-Montbéliard alongside Nathan Sinkala. At Sochaux, Sunzu scored important goals but could not prevent the relegation of the French side to Ligue 2. He featured a total of 287 times and contributed four 4 goals.
Sunzu spent 12 months at Sochaux before making a brief switch to the Chinese side, Shanghai Greenland Shenhua. His stint at Shenhua ended with a return to the French Ligue to join Lille, with only 6 months into his contract at Shenhua. Initially arriving on loan, Sunzu penned a permanent three3-year contract with Lille at the season.
He made
Despite making 2116 appearances and contributing two goals across all competitions,
On 3 February 2017, with only six6 months into his Lille contract, Sunzu was loaned to Russian Premier League club FC Arsenal Tula until the end of the 2016/17 season. He stayed for another season-long-loan at Tula till the end of the 2017/18 season. Sunzu scored two goals in 43 appearances across all competitions at Tula.
On 9 July 2018, Sunzu returned to France when he signed a two-year contract with FC Metz. During his time at Metz, Sunzu made 573 appearances and netted two2 goals across all competitions. Later, in the winter transfer window of the 2019/20 season, Sunzu left Metz to join the Chinese Super League side Shijiazhuang Ever Bright where he plays currently.
Altogether, Sunzu has 149 appearances in European football with ten goals.
Undoubtedly, many football exports to Europe have emerged from the Chipolopolo set up over the past two decades. From those already mentioned above to the likes of Zeddy Saileti, who spent 16 years at Finnish club, RoPS; Rogers Kola who featured for Belgian Giants, KAA Gent; Gift Kampamba who played for Russian Premier League club, Rostov; Boyd Mwila who turned out for Örgryte in the Swedish League; Emmanuel Mbola who spent five years at Israeli club Hapoel Raanana; Edwin Phiri who featured for Örgryte, Ljungskile and FC Trollhättan between 2002 and 2015, to name but a few. We salute each one of them for putting the Zambian game on the map!
Worth a mention or at least in passing
Edwin Phiri – Sweden
Boyd Mwila
Zeddy Saileti
Gift Kampamba
Emmanuel Mbola
Rogers Kola