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SPORTS TIMES OF ZAMBIA, FRIDAY, MAY 21, 2021 15 50 OFFICIAL SPONSOR YEARS OF POWER facebook.com/powerdynamosfootballclub WITH PONGA LIWEWE twitter.com/@PowerDynamosFC Power Dynamos: How it all started EYTON Kaira glanced across the in. Michael Musonda Cairo ended their dream field at the now silent Ndeke Primary came from Ridgeway with a 4-0 aggregate M Hotel, Lucky Msiska score. School football ground. He had a smile from Edinburgh In defeat, however, on his face. The far-away look in his eyes Hotel’s Red Stars FC, Dynamos had shown that told the story of a man who had played his Wisdom Chansa, not they had a side capable part in making history. He had formed his considered by Rokana of challenging the best little football club, using his own resources, United left to join Power the continent had to Dynamos where he went offer, emerging runner- but well-constructed without any shortage on to become the club’s up in a field of almost design of plank and of enthusiasm. After most celebrated player. fifty entrants. a series of broken The first cup Two years later, they windows in success in 1979 was would show themselves countless training followed by what the best team in the was to become land when they won sessions, he another first for their first ever league was asked to Zambian football. title in 1984. It was immediately In 1982, Power achieved in magnificent vacate the school Dynamos made fashion, beating a skillful facility. history by becoming Mufulira Wanderers team He approached the first Zambian 4-1 under floodlights, team to reach the leading to mass the young Kitwe final of a continental celebrations in Ndeke businessman, Peter cup final when and Ndeke Village Mashambe, who they faced Egypt’s with fans dancing in ran the Mapili Arab Contractors the streets and a few Ground in Ndeke in the 1982 Cup headaches the following for assistance, but Winners Cup final. work day at Copperbelt a crowded schedule The Kitwe side were Power Division. Davies would not allow disadvantaged by looked on from the any more teams to the Confederation VIP Stand, arms spread • KAIRA • DAVIES be accommodated BY PONGA LIWEWE of African Football, in celebration at the CAF, when they end, before making his there. insisted that the final way down to the field metal that would soon be Scratching his head, be played in the capital where he joined the turned into an arena of he had scanned the city. Power Dynamos jubilant team that had excellence and success. horizon and walked had to shift base to stopped their cross town To build a club many kilometres in Lusaka. To reduce the rivals from making it worthy of challenging search of a location impact of the move, three in a row of league for honours, he first where he could set up. He Davies dispatched his top successes. Later, a string sought out the services finally decided on the old groundsmen to Lusaka of gifted officials would of players from the Archery club, abandoned where they camped and follow in Davies’s lower ranks and added a since the closure of the turned the average pitch footsteps with Hanson sprinkling of tried and old Kitwe Airport. there into a sea of lush Sindowe, and later tested pros who, while Kaira, as a means green turf on which the London Mwafulilwa considered past their of contributing to his team could display their driving the clubs best, would bring community and from neat brand of passing ambitions forward. much-needed experience a lifelong love of football. The following year, and glamour. In came football, started a team The match was 1985, Dynamos would Richard Stephenson who that would go on to be an even affair until come agonizingly close had graced the Kabwe recognised as among the a mistake by Blackwell to a second successive Warriors team with class elite of Zambian football. Chalwe changed the league title, losing out on and skill. At his peak, he In the early days, he had course of the match when the final day at home to gathered a humdrum Nkana, with both teams mixture of wannabe tied on points, and the players – mainly school Arthur Davies raided Wusakile team winning kids - and those from the crucial match 2-0 to the community who just the First division’s break Dynamos hearts. liked to have a kickabout. The title would then After several bright stars as Alex shift across the dual seasons and the team carriageway for four of holding its own in the the next five seasons amateur league, he Chola was smuggled until Dynamos retained was approached by the title in 1991. Even • CHOLA • MWILA the former football out of Mufulira - greater than the league referee and Copperbelt championship win in Power Company, CPC, Zambia, her first- ever three years later in largely behind the Dynamos were runner 1991 was the team’s continental title. 1994, largely with achievements of the up, most recently in employee Arthur Davies. much to the anger of victory over Nigeria’s The year was 1971. The following players who had latter nineties and early 2013. BCC Lions in the Cup season, however, the been elevated from 2000. In the post-ZCCM Power Dynamos Football Mufulira Blackpool Winners Cup, renamed Club began its journey to team was broken up the reserve team, A long run football era, Power the Nelson Mandela Cup by a player strike that among them Sunday without a league title Dynamos have punched the top. in honour of the great Arthur Davies, the fans led to a one-season Kalunga, Kellys followed between 2000 above their weight with African leader. ban for most of the ‘Paymaster’ Mwaba, and 2011. It was to be the team still among the General Manager at A 3-2 loss in the had been a national team players. As a result, Gibson Shikilwa, the leanest spell in the most followed and are Copperbelt Power he inexplicably let the first leg in Nigeria was stalwart. Wisdom Chansa left Zifa Nkhoma teams history, though regularly in contention Company, decided that ball bounce out of his overturned with a 3-2 Later, Arthur Davies for South Africa, joined and also Milton Kaira’s there were cup victories for places in continental he needed to build a hands into the net giving win in Lusaka. When raided the First division’s by Robert Watiyakeni own son Mike, who was in the Charity shield football. Their youth team in the image of Arab Contractors an the ball bounced off bright stars as Alex Chola at Lenasia Dynamos in a prolific goal scorer in 2004, 2006, 2012, development policy is his beloved Welsh team unexpected advantage. Webby Chilufya’s thigh was smuggled out of South Africa, Richard during his time at the 2013 and 2016. The one of the best in the Swansea City which wore Dynamos, despite a for an own goal to give Mufulira - much to Sikanyika was due club. changing tide in the country and they churn an all-white strip. Also nonstop onslaught with the Nigerian’s the lead, the anger of Mufulira to join Kaizer Chiefs In 1997, again three club’s league fortunes out some of the most a Leeds United fan, he Alex Chola carving it brought back flashes Blackpool fans who but was struck by years after their last was brought about by exciting young talent in also favoured the Yellow open the midfield and of Blackwell Chalwe’s declared Mufulira a illness. Edwin Katongo success, Dynamos the ability of parastatal the domestic game. kit of the Yorkshire Peter Kaumba ravaging error nine years earlier. no-go area for Power retired a couple of won the league once companies to outspend For a team that began club. Both colours would down the left flank, This time though, led Dynamos supporters. seasons later and the more. The team was their rivals. The likes its genesis in the mind feature prominently in desperately sought an by the inspirational Bizwell Phiri, the star great generation of stars on a roll. Though they of Zesco United, and of Milton Kaira, they Power Dynamos kits over equaliser. With the clock captain Wisdom Chansa, player of Lusaka Tigers passed on the torch. were unable to replicate Zanaco were the main have come a long way the years. running down the north they rallied back and also left town ‘quietly’ Such was the depth their African Cup beneficiaries of this era. over several decades Davies, through Africans bid their time goals from the Richard to join a long line of of the squad at Power success, they were A rejuvenated NAPSA and shine the light for guile and prudent use and struck with a counter Sikanyika and Wedson incoming players. Dynamos’ disposal that continually a force on Stars has since joined Zambian football as a of resources, built the attack to make it 2-0. Nyirenda gave Dynamos Through his despite the breakup of the domestic front. The the list more recently. household name in the Arthur Davies Stadium, It would prove to be an unassailable 3-1 lead trusted Lieutenant Freddie the team that won the year 2000 also brought The 2011 victory African game, their adjacent to a disused a bridge too far for and a 5-4 aggregate Mwila, young developing Nelson Mandela Cup, another league title. The came on the back of name etched in African airstrip in the Ndeke area Dynamos. Two more score that gave the of Kitwe. It was a simple talent was also roped they were crowned post- Mandela Cup several close calls and football history.

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