Former Kafue Celtic Kangwanda signed a two-year contract with Croatian club HNK Gorica in August of last year, with an option to extend for another year.
He was later loaned to NK Zagreb, which plays in Croatia’s second division, to help him adjust to European football and the weather, but the player was unable to adapt and chose to return home.
Following his return from Croatia, the 23-year-old signed a three-year contract with Zambian champions Red Arrows FC, stating that he was inspired to join the Airmen after hearing about the team’s vision and goals for the season.
Kangwanda said that he is happy to be back home after having challenges adapting to life in Croatia.
“It feels good to always be back in the country,” he said. “I was so far away from home; it was very difficult to adapt, and then you are back, your family is close, and your friends are close; it’s always motivating.”
He also described his short stint in Croatia as a valuable learning experience for his career.
“It was a good motivation for me in my career and if I look back, I will always pick the positives and I want to build from there, and coming back, I pray that I will continue to work hard and win a spot back in the national team.”
Kangwanda will now be expected to replicate his form from last season at his new club Red Arrows FC, having scored 12 goals in the Zambian Super League for Kafue Celtic and also scoring the match-winning goal in the 2022 COSAFA Cup final against Namibia, which helped the Chipolopolo boys win the regional trophy for the sixth time to equal Zimbabwe’s record.
