FROM AMATEUR TO THE SUMMIT OF ZAMBIAN FOOTBALL

By Ponga Liwewe

Power Dynamos Football Club was formed through the initiative of one man, Meyton Kaira, whose love for football saw him dig deep into his own pockets to unintentionally kick-start the careers of so many players who would become household names in Zambian football.

One such player was Abel Mwelesho, whose journey began at Nkana Primary School where he had his first taste of organised football. He later progressed to Kitwe Boys Secondary where he teamed up with fellow Power legend Peter Kaumba and former Green Buffaloes striker Binwell Chibwe, uncle to the late Wisdom Chansa. Mwelesho later transferred to Ndeke Secondary School until 1977 where he completed high school.

While at high school he was recruited into Power Dynamos, training in the morning before school alongside contemporaries like Blackwell Chalwe, who went on to become first-choice goalkeeper for many years, and Peter Lungu.

A key figure in organising community structures was Michael Mweemba. Three-quarters of Rokana United and Power Dynamos players emerged from this system. Top clubs had the pick of secondary school players, with Rokana focusing on Chamboli Secondary School while Power Dynamos recruited from Ndeke Secondary.

Looking back with fond memories, Mwelesho pays tribute to the officials who managed Power at that time.

“I remember Dan Chisulo from that era because he used to procure football boots for the team, and also Jeff Muwowo, who was vital in the team’s early formation and assisting with transportation. Even as far back as then, it was possible to predict that the team would rise to greater heights because of the dedication of administrators like Mr Ernest Mate who worked for the City Council in those days,” says Mwelesho.

One of the other factors in the rise of Zambian football was the zoning of mining communities into sections.

“We had what they called section football. If you lived in a certain section, you played for that section. In the section I played for we had Golden Kazika, Kapambwe Mulenga and his brother. We also had Dominic ‘Kabulubulu’ Mutale who also went on to play for Rokana United. From section football, we then went to youth football which was organised by the mines in the community centres. From there we were also involved in schools football. There we had Under-10, Under-11, Under-12, so we kept on developing until Under-18, moving through the ranks. That gave us the desire to progress because there was a pathway to the top,” Mwelesho recalls.

He also acknowledges administrators who influenced the growth of the game.

“Mr Tom Mtine was involved in managing these processes as was Mr Abraham Mukola. That generation really ran football well. We can also not forget the role played by Mr Dennis Liwewe in promoting football. All the players looked forward to being mentioned in football radio commentaries.”

He acknowledges the visionary leadership of Arthur Davies in building the stadium.

“Arthur Davies was instrumental in a visionary way because he brought the stadium idea from the UK and he would say to us that he wanted to conquer African football soon. It was when we were in the second division that he used to say that to us. We were very close and he would ask my opinion on what we should do and where we should take the football club.”

During construction of the stadium, Mwelesho was physically involved in building the terraces and installing the floodlights.

When the stadium was complete and the team promoted to the top league, Davies began to strengthen the team, acquiring Alex Chola, Bizwell Phiri and Michael Musonda who captained the team for many years.

The stage was set for the team that would become the first Zambian club to reach the final of a continental competition in 1982 when they faced Arab Contractors of Egypt in the African Cup Winners’ Cup final.

Two years later in 1984, they won their first ever league title, lifting the crown at home under floodlights in a comprehensive 4-1 victory over Mufulira Wanderers that sparked celebrations across Ndeke late into the night.

This was the foundation upon which many more successes would follow and would see Power Dynamos make an indelible mark in Zambia’s football history and ring the bells of victory that still reverberate today, 55 years after inception.

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