Not so long ago, there was a time when both Orlando Pirates and Mamelodi coveted Justin Shonga.
That was such a milestone for a man who juggled police officer duties and semi-professional football in his homeland – Zambia.
Deservedly, the interest in his services came after a fine run in the Cosafa Cup. Shonga was once deemed a key figure in the Zambia national team. Justifiably so.
His career started at Nkwazi FC, a club owned and funded by the police. He is arguably one of the finest talents to switch the cop’s uniform for their playing kit—the only one to leave the club and move to a professional side in another country.
“I’m still a policeman back at home [Zambia]. It’s not easy to play football and be a police officer, you must be very determined, and you have to work hard and be very focused. That will help you achieve in life,” Shonga tells FARPost.
He credits his ‘work ethic’ on the field of play to “the discipline that comes with being a policeman”.
“I can deal with a different type of pressure and challenges,” he added.
After the impressive performances in the Cosafa Cup in 2017, he was a man on demand.
It was a race between two South African giants, Mamelodi Sundowns and Orlando Pirates. Sundowns were believed to have won the race but were let down because they had already exceeded their foreign quota rule to register only five foreign players.
He eventually joined the Buccaneers, making 19 appearances in the league scoring four goals and providing four assists in a season where the Soweto giants finished runners up to Mamelodi Sundowns.
The following season – 2018/19 – he scored six goals and provided four assists helping Pirates finish second in the domestic league.
Shonga saw a dip in form under the new technical team at Bucs after Milutin Sjeredovic abruptly left the club for North Africa to join the Egyptian giants Zamalek. The Zambian international parted ways with the Buccaneers to join Tshakuma Tsha Madzivhandila. Not before his career was marred by controversy.
Nonetheless, Shonga established himself as one of the best players for TTM and did enough to impress the Cape Town City hierarchy, who captured his signature from the Limpopo-based side.
He was tipped to crack up goals for the Citizens, but the former Pirates man failed to live up to expectations after failing to find the back of the net in 12 outings for the Capetonians.
It was inevitable that Shonga would be offloaded as he failed to reach the heights that made City sign him.
The well-travelled striker joined Egyptian side Ismailly in 2021, and it was a move many thought would place his declining career back on track.
Unfortunately, the two parties parted ways over unpaid wages barely two months into his contract. “My time in Egypt was not nice. It was tough because I have a family to feed, not getting paid and being told the team doesn’t have money was so painful that is why I had to leave,” Shonga sadly recalls.
Given his credentials or the glimpses he had shown in the local game, he was not a free agent for a long time, with PSL newbies Sekhukhune United moving swiftly to bring the Zambian international. He teamed up with his countryman, number one goalie Toaster Nsabata. “Justin is a good player. I know him very well because we played against each other in Zambia. When he was playing for Nkwazi, I was playing for Zanaco. I remember telling my teammates one day that if we’re going to lose against them [Nkwazi FC], we’ll be punished by Shonga because he has good technique and makes good runs in the box,” Nsabata revealed.
By Tshepo Rabothe
Just when Justin found his rhythm for Babina Noko after making nine appearances and scoring two goals, discipline demons rocked up again.
“He’s giving us problems, and if it continues like this, he may not be part of our team next season,” a club source said.
At 26-years-old, he has a few years to recapture his most pleasing form. But will he shake off his ill-discipline curse? Precious time will tell!
