Ex-PSL goalie Chibwe battles ghosts in Saturday’s charm offensive
EX-PSL goalie Mwenya Chibwe is set to make his first full start this Saturday for Zesco United following a fortnight of goalkeeping drama in the house of the 9-time Zambian champions.
An out-of-favour first-choice, and a red card for the number two, has opened the door for the South African-born Chipolopolo stopper to finally make the starting XI since joining Zesco in July as a free agent.
Zesco first-choice and Kenyan international Ian Otieno is laying low following his scandalous back-pass save against Royal AM on October 15 at home in Ndola.
The blunder earned the South African club the equaliser via a 58th-minute free-kick in the box that was converted by Ruzaigh Gamildien.
CHIBWE TO PROVE HIMSELF
That match ended 1-1 and saw Royal AM advance to November’s 2022/2023 CAF Confederation Cup pre-group stage on away goals rule after a scoreless first leg result.
And then on October 26, second-choice Gregory Sanjase was red-carded in the 80th minute after the momentum pushed him outside the box as he lunged for the ball in a one-on-one situation.
Chibwe then made his debut for 10-man Zesco in what was his first experience of Zambian league football after playing his entire career in South Africa.
Sanjase’s red card cannot be overlooked as it was Zesco’s third in as many games with the second one also coming against MUZA when interim coach Alfred Lupiya was sent to the stands for using abusive language against the match officials.
Meanwhile, as Chibwe heads into his full Zesco debut, he remains haunted by a ghost from his recent past.
TO MAKE THING RIGHT…
Last July, Chibwe was in the spotlight of Chipolopolo’s 4-3 semifinal win over Senegal in the 2022 COSAFA Cup semifinals in Durban.
Chibwe, a former Polokwane City and Baroka goalminder made two goalkeeping errors late in the second half that saw Zambia’s lead cut from 3-1 in the 63rd minute when El Hadi Ndiaye and Moussa Ndiaye scored in the 72nd and 89th minutes respectively.
Senegal almost levelled deep into stoppage time but the football gods favoured Chibwe when Jean Diouf’s shot rolled inches wide of the far post.
Chibwe was seemingly struggling with an injury during that match and was not only ruled out of the final that saw Zambia beat Namibia 1-0, but also sidelined for two-months to recover by Zesco.
This Saturday, Chibwe now has a very big test when Zesco visits Kabwe Warriors in a match he will be overshadowed in the build-up.
Warriors are coached by George Lwandamina who guided Zesco to four league titles in 2014 and 2015 during his first spell, and two more in 2018 and 2019 during his second coming before was fired after failing to defend the crown in 2020.
Sadly for Chibwe, his moment of redemption lists him as potential collateral damage as undercurrents between Lwandamina and the club that fired him two seasons ago simmer into Saturday’s grudge date.