FIFA player agent Chiti Chitundu has highlighted some reasons behind Zambia’s struggle to export goalkeepers to other leagues.
Zambia has no tangible history of exporting goalkeepers. Legendary Efford Chabala had a brief spell in Argentina with Argentinos Juniors during the 1991/92 season; Kennedy Mweene had a long career in South Africa, playing for Free State Stars and Mamelodi Sundowns.
Other past national team keepers that have tasted foreign leagues are Kalililo Kakonje, who played for AmaZulu, Golden Arrows, and Nathi Lions in South Africa, as well as African giants TP Mazembe. More recently, Toaster Nsabata turned up for Sekhukhune in South Africa.
The last Zambian keeper to play outside Africa was James Phiri, who signed a two-year contract with Chinese club Qingdao Hainiu in 1998. When his contract expired, he returned to Zambia and retired to join the Zanaco coaching staff.
In the squad announced by Avram Grant yesterday, all three shot-stoppers are locally based, something that Chitundu says boils down to different factors.
Lawrence Mulenga turns up for Power Dynamos, Charles Kalumba is the man between Red Arrows’ sticks while Toaster Nsabata plays at Zesco United.
“It would be ideal that we have our keepers playing in other leagues higher than ours but it is not easy for a goalkeeper; you really have to be exceptional,” Chitundu said.
Other Factors Limiting Zambian Goalkeepers
Chitundu said there are other factors at play.
“First of all, there are some leagues like in Egypt where they have a rule against foreign keepers,” Chitundu said.
At the start of the 2009/10 season, the Egyptian FA barred clubs from signing goalkeepers; this was after legendary coach Shehata’s observation that his country lacked quality goalkeepers.
“Secondly, the development of goalkeepers in some leagues focuses on some special attributes which an already developed goalkeeper from another country may not have in his adulthood,” he said. “Lastly the inconsistency at national team level has contributed to less exports.”
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