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By Satish Sekar © Satish Sekar (September 20th 2021)
Begin the Wonder Year
Next year marks the 50th anniversary of Africa’s Goal King, the late great Godfrey Chitalu’s wonder year. He set two African Champions Clubs records and two world records (unless anyone knows better). He also won all five domestic trophies on offer with his club Kabwe Warriors.
Born in Luanshya, Chitalu got his chance in Kitwe. He made his debut for Kitwe United in 1965 and for Zambia in 1968. In 1972 Chitalu scored 107 goals in the season, but his calendar year tally was underestimated for no good reason.
On January 23rd Kabwe Warriors played Lesotho’s champions Majantja. It ended in a 2-2 draw. His second goal was special according to the man who conceded it, Lebohang ‘Black Cat’ Nteko. For almost 50 years no journalist had gone to see Lebohang Nteko. 49 years after Chitalu started his wonder year I went to Lesotho to track down Nteko. He gave me an interview detailing Chitalu’s exploits. It’s amazing that no Zambian journalists had bothered to see him.
Exceptional
Chitalu’s teammate, and Zambia great, Richard concurs. While Majantja and the crowd were celebrating retaking the lead, Kabwe Warriors kicked off. Chitalu cut through Majantja’s defence beating player after player. Near the edge of the area he unleashed a trademark fierce shot.
Nteko says the fierceness of Chitalu’s shooting led his defenders to avoid blocking the shot. With typical accuracy Chitalu’s shot gave Nteko no chance. It hit the stanchion. Years later Nteko asked Chitalu how he did that. “I used to practice after everyone had gone home,” Chitalu explained. Practice made perfect. Chitalu aimed, fired and hit the stanchion he was shooting at. What a goal. Nearly 50 years later it is still talked about in Lesotho.
Nteko says, “We didn’t know who he was when they arrived in Lesotho.” After that goal everyone knew who Godfrey Chitalu was. Despite the draw, Majantja was quietly confident. Nteko explains that the venue was changed and it was very hot – that had an effect and also made the shirts heavy. On February 6th 1972 the iconic Dag Hammarskjöld Stadium hosted one of its many Godfrey Chitalu shows. Majantja’s tactics were simple – stop Chitalu playing and smash and grab, but Chitalu had other ideas. Despite Majantja assigning their best man-marker to keep him quiet, Chitalu wasn’t having it. If one wasn’t enough try two. He still liked it. Sandford Mvula and the great Boniface Simutowe scored, but there was no doubt who the star was.
Record Setters
Kabwe warriors ran riot, winning the match 9-0. At the time it was a CAF African Cup of Champions Clubs record for highest score in a match. It remains the only CAF clubs record set by a Zambian team in Zambia – well actually Chitalu’s record in the same match made it the only match where two African records were set by Zambians.
The club record was surpassed by Raja Casablanca, 10-1, against Tourbillon in 2011. Difaâ Hassani d’el Jadida beat Benfica de Bissau 10-0 in 2018 to displace their Moroccan rivals, but their record was beaten by Mamelodi Sundowns thrashing the Seychelles’ Côte d’Or 11-1 in 2019.
Chitalu’s individual record has lasted the best part of 50 years – and counting. He was that special! Interestingly, CAFonline recognises the clubs’ records, but not the individual record. CAF’s acknowledgment of Kabwe Warriors’ 9-0 raises the question of why Kabwe Warriors are acknowledged, but Chitalu is not. Newspaper records at the time establish that Chitalu scored seven in the second match – a record that still stands to this day.
Astonishing
According to Nteko, Chitalu’s performance so demoralised his original man-marker, that after playing a match in Botswana on the way back, he hung up his boots. There can’t be many players who made such a mockery of three man-markers that he still scored seven.
Asked who the best striker he faced was, Nteko has no doubt. “Godfrey Chitalu,” he says without hesitation. And as for the records that are yet to be acknowledged. “They are his records,” Nteko told me exclusively. “He scored those goals past me. They must acknowledge him.”
