Kalengo tips youngsters
RETIRED Zesco United’s veteran striker Winston Kalengo says discipline and dedication is the secret to a successful career in football.
Kalengo announced his retirement from the game on Sunday as Zesco United beat his former club Zanaco 1-0 to mark the end of an illustrious career spanning almost two decades.
Speaking after playing his final season where he was rewarded as the club’s player of the year for the 2021/22 Super League season, Kalengo said he was able to succeed at Zesco United and Zanaco FC because of hard work and dedication to achieve his objective of being one of the best.
He said his football journey wasn’t without challenges as he had to endure some challenges to succeed at Zesco United and Zanaco where he won trophies.
“I have had a great career at both Zesco United and Zanaco. This was a career of smiles and sorrows but that’s the nature of football. I have been successful at both clubs because I won titles.
“My journey in the game began in 2003 and even then, I didn’t know things would come to an end like this. I also didn’t think I would last this long in the game. However, everything has been easy due to the grace of God,” Kalengo told the club’s media team.
The veteran striker who also had successful stint at AC Leopards in Congo DR and also played for the Zambia national team said time had come for him to leave the stage for upcoming stars like Enock Sakala, Zesco’s promising young striker.
“I believe whatever goes up must come down. I felt it in me that it was high time I left the stage to young players to carry on from where I have left things. I believe I have left a good crop of young players at this club,” Kalengo said.
Kalengo joined Zanaco FC in 2005 and went on to win four Super League titles, one Charity Shield and one Zambia Challenge Cup before joining Zesco United in 2014 where he won back to back Super League titles and one ABSA Cup title before he joined Leopards.
He returned to Zesco United in 2017 and added three more league titles and another ABSA Cup trophy to his trophy cabinet.
Meanwhile, Zesco coach Numba Mumamba who was Kalengo’s striking partner at Zanaco in 2005 urged youngsters to learn from the perfect examples set by the veteran striker who was easy to manage despite having shared the dressing room as players at Zanaco.
After retiring from active football, Kalengo will now focus on acquiring his coaching badges as he begins his life off the pitch.