Chipolopolo forward Fashion Sakala has extended his contract with Al Fayha until 2026, the club announced in a statement on Tuesday.
This follows numerous reports that, after an outstanding season with Al-Fayha, he was being pursued another Saudi Pro League side, Al-Ettifaq, a team coached by his former coach, Steven Gerald.
In his debut season in the Saudi Pro League, the 27-year-old Zambian scored 19 goals and assisted six times. He was also Al-Fayha’s top scorer in the AFC Champions League, scoring three goals and assisting twice in eight games.
The fact that he has chosen to remain in Al Fayha is not surprising. In November last year, Sakala stated that he is happy in Saudi Arabia and fully committed to his current club.
“I am not thinking about that [returning to Europe],” he told BolaNews in an interview.
In Al Fayha’s statement on Tuesday, the club said, “The Al Fayha Club Board of Directors, led by Dr. Tawfiq Saleh Almodihem, has completed the procedures to extend the contract of professional player Fashion Junior Sakala with the first team for an additional season until 2026.”
Al Fayha, who finished ninth in the Saudi Pro League, also revealed that Sakala and his family are happy to stay with the club.
“This decision was made because both sides wanted it to keep the team strong. Sakala is happy to stay with Alfayha, and his family enjoys living in Saudi Arabia and playing in a top league that is getting better. He promised to work hard to make Alfayha fans happy and help the team reach its goals.”
Sakala finished tied for third in the Saudi Pro League scoring chart this season with Abderrazak Hamdallah, trailing only Cristiano Ronaldo(35) and Aleksandar Mitrovic(28).
