This Saturday, veteran striker James Chamanga will play his final professional match as Red Arrows take on Zanaco in the Super Division Week 34 match at Nkoloma Stadium in Lusaka, marking the end of an illustrious 25-year career.
The 45-year-old forward, who has been with Red Arrows since 2019, will officially retire after the game at Nkoloma Stadium. The club confirmed his retirement on Tuesday, bringing the curtain down on a remarkable journey that began in 2000.
As Chamanga prepares to hang up his boots, Bolanews looks back at some of the defining moments of his storied career.
2002 – Makes Super League Debut
Chamanga traces his roots to Makumbi Stars, a club that was run by seasoned football administrator Simataa Simataa. In 2002, he moved to the City of Lusaka from Makumbi Stars.
At City, he made his Super League debut; he was part of the City team that finished 11th with 33 points. He left the City in 2003 and joined the National Assembly.
2005 – Chipolopolo debut, signs for foreign club
The period between 2000 and 2004 was a time for preparations for bigger things that would follow Chamanga’s career. 2005 was a big break.
In February that year, he made his Chipolopolo debut in a scoreless draw against Botswana. It took him little time before he could score for the team.
He bagged his first Chipolopolo goal in a 2-all draw of the COSAFA semi–final against South Africa.
It was in 2005 when he earned his first ‘professional’ deal, signing for Bush Bucks. He went on to play for SuperSport United and Moroka Swallows.
2006 – Makes AfCON Debut
The African Cup of Nations (AFCON) is the biggest football event on the continent. Every player wants to be there. Chamanga made his AfCON debut on January 22, 2006.
On that day, he was on the scoresheet in the 4–1 defeat to Tunisia.
2007 – Wins PSL Golden Boot, moves to China
In 2007, Chamanga had a good season for Swallows, winning the Golden Boot after scoring 14 goals in 21 matches.
That season, Chamanga scored a record-breaking five goals for Swallows in a 6–2 win over Platinum Stars. It was no surprise that he earned a move to China, joining Dalian Shide the following year.
In China, he went on to have a 10–year career, turning up for Shide and later Liaoning.
2012 – Wins AfCON
Chamanga was an instrumental part of Zambia’s 2012 AfCON-winning team. He is fondly remembered for his goal in the 3 – 0 quarter final 3 – 0 win over Sudan.
He was an unused substitute in the final against Ivory Coast.
2020 – Wins Super League Golden Boot
This is probably one of Chamanga’s proudest moments. At age 40, no one gave him a chance but he proved many wrong when he won his first Super League Golden Boot.
In this season, he managed to bag 16 goals, one better than Baba Basile.
2022 – Wins Super League
Believe it or not, 2022 was the first time Chamanga was winning a league title in his career. He was later to win it last season with Arrows again.
2025 – Retires
Whatever goes up must come down; it is a strange coincidence that Chamanga’s retirement was announced three days after he missed a penalty in the ABSA Cup final.
Happy retirement you legend, you have earned it.
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