Godfrey ‘Ucar’ Chitalu scored for fun, but Africa’s goal king has been denied the respect he is due. Just 45 when he died in the Gabon Plane Crash, he was on his way to showing that great, even controversial, players, can become great coaches too.
We believe that facts speak for themselves. Chitalu holds two world records – he broke another two as well – his own. He also holds two African Cup of Champions Clubs records, which have yet to be acknowledged. And that is just his phenomenal 1972.
Written off while respected by great opponents, Chitalu returned from his international exclusion an even more prolific striker than before. With 79 goals for Zambia in internationals, he holds the record as the most prolific African striker in international football, and is the only African in the top ten list of international strikers – a record that will not be broken any time soon.
Feared and respected in the first half of his international career the discarded striker came back with a better second half that included CECAFA Cup record, set in 1978. One of CAF’s top 200 players, Chitalu never made the top ten African players even in his ‘miracle’ year, 1972.
Africa’s Goal King aims to ensure that a new generation of football supporters discover the prowess of an African icon and that posthumously, Chitalu is afforded the full respect he has earned, starting in his homeland with a Lifetime Achievement Award.
