Wed, 15 Feb 2017 09:26:12 +0000
…as Fashion Sakala signs 3 years deal with Russia’s Spartak Moscow
By Michael Miyoba
ZAMBIAN league champions and CAF Champions League representatives ZANACO Football Club has yet again lost a very influential striker in Fashion Sakala, after the junior Chipolopolo hitman signed a three-year deal with Spartak Moscow of Russia.
Sakala, 19, recently attended trials at Spartak Moscow where he impressed after scoring three goals and making four assists and the player signed the deal after undergoing medicals in South Africa on Monday.
According to an insiderS, the three-year deal is worth $84,000 (approximately K840,000).
The Under-20 national team striker joins the list of ZANACO players that have left the bankers for foreign clubs.
Speaking in an interview with the Daily Nation Sports in Lusaka, Sakala said he was proud to have achieved his dream of playing for a foreign club.
“I always dream big. It was my dream to move to Europe and it has come to pass. I just have my God to thank because he has made everything possible for me. It is a good move for me and my career going forward. I will aim higher. This is just the beginning for my career, ” he said.
Sakala thanked the Zanaco technical bench for the reception accorded to him during his stay at Sunset Stadium.
“I really thank the technical bench at ZANACO. They welcomed me well and gave me the freedom and peace to do everything. And when I come back let them welcome me the same way they did because ZANACO will always be my home,” he said.
Fashion is part of Beston Chambeshi’s squad that will take part in the Under-20 Africa Cup of Nations tournament to be hosted by Zambia between 26th February and 12th March.
But despite losing one of his dependable strikers, ZANACO head coach Numba Mumamba believes he still has a good squad that can defend the MTN/FAZ Super League.
Mumamba believes the trekking of ZANACO players to foreign clubs will benefit both the players and the nation at large as they will gain the exposure needed for any footballer.
“We have a good team that can still defend the league. We have a good number of new players who have joined us, it’s just unfortunate that the players were not registered but they will be able to play in the CAF Champions League if we go through to the next round,” Mumamba said.
“At ZANACO we look at the future of the players. I think it is a blessing to us because there is no team that has produced many players going abroad this year. The future of the player is more important. It is an advantage for the nations as well because when these players go abroad, they acquire the experience and exposure needed at national team level,” he added.
Zanaco will this weekend be hosted by Armee Patriotique Rwandaise (APR) of Rwanda in the second leg of the preliminary fixture of CAF Champions League having played to a goalless draw in the first leg played at Nkoloma Stadium in Lusaka.
The winner will progress to the next round while the loser will automatically be eliminated from the CAF Champions league.
