Former Kaizer Chiefs forward Lazarous Kambole looks set to make his official debut in Tanzania after recovering from an injury.
The Zambia international recently joined defending league champions Young Africans, but an injury picked during pre-season kept him on the sidelines.
However, Yanga’s assistant coach Cedric Kaze has confirmed his availability after recovering from the injury.
“He’s settling in nicely; unfortunately, he got injured during the pre-season. But since last week, he started training with the team. This break came at the right time for him,” Kaze told FARPost.
The Tanzania league is on a break with the national team playing Uganda on Saturday in a CHAN qualifier. Yanga play Azam on 6 September in their next league assignment.
His former coach at Zesco, George Lwandamina, who has previously had a stint with Yanga, believes Timu ya Wananchi presents his former prodigy with an opportunity to revive his career.
Kambole played some of his best football under Lwandamina at Zesco before his switch to Chiefs.
“We met in 2014 when I joined Zesco. I used to see him before we joined when he was at Konkola, he is small and short, but he used to jump and beat taller defenders.
“He has off-mark speed. His take-off is so incredible. When I got there, he was playing 7 or 11, but I felt we were not using him to his strength because of his speed.
“I got one or two players who would understand him and use his strength.
“We could kill some teams by using his strengths; we could create space behind and absorb the pressure.
“He scored more of the goals as a number 9; it was the right decision. On the side, he was never as productive,” Lwandamina told FARPost.
He is convinced his discipline will carry him through as he starts life in Dar es Salaam.
“He has to be determined, have ambition, be ambitious to achieve and most of all; he’s a diplomat. He has to behave like a diplomat. He’s representing his country. He has to behave exemplarily. He’s one of the disciplined players; he’s intelligent.”
Lwandamina believes the Yanga stint is an opportunity for Kambole to revive his career after an unsuccessful time at Chiefs.
“It is a chance to revive his career; what is essential in life is the next chance. Chances don’t come like roses; you must take them with both hands. He has to rekindle his career.”
