BBC SPORT | FOOTBALL | Greatest Zambian footballer retires

One of Africa's greatest footballers, Kalusha Bwalya of Zambia, has announced his retirement from active football, ending a 21-year career on the field.

Speaking from Mexico, where he has been been playing since 1994, the 37-year-old former Zambian captain said that he had taken up a new job as an assistant coach in a Second Division club.

I feel satisfied with my playing career and I am at peace with myself

Kalusha Bwalya, Zambia

Kalusha, who was voted Africa's best player in 1988, escaped a massive air crash off the coast of Gabon in 1993 that claimed the lives of almost the entire Zambian national soccer team and some of their officials.

The team was on its way to Senegal for a World Cup qualifying game and Kalusha was going to travel from his club in Europe to join them.

One of the midfielder's greatest moments of triumph was at the 1988 Seoul Olympics, when he scored a hat-trick as Zambia beat Italy 4-0, on their way to the quarter finals.

Journey from Mufulira

Kalusha Bwalya in action for Zambia
Kalusha Bwalya begun his playing career with Mufulira Blackpool in 1979 at the age of 16, where he scored on his league debut.

He moved the next year to Zambia's most famous club Mufulira Wanderers when he played until 1986, when he became the first well-known Zambian player to move overseas as he joined Belgian club Cercle Bruges.

He moved to top Dutch club PSV Eindhoven in 1989, where he enjoyed some considerable success before joining Mexico's Club America in 1994.

He subsequently played for three other Mexican clubs.

Captain

Kalusha has captained the Zambian national side on numerous occasions since 1992.

Football has been good to me in terms of fitness. I'm very fit at 37

Kalusha Bwalya

One of his most notable moments of glory was probably when he led a young Zambian side to the 1994 African Nations Cup final less than a year after the plane crash that killed most of the nation's best players.

Even though he announced his retirement from international football at the 1998 African Cup of Nations tournament in Burkina Faso, he was tempted back to play for his nation at the 2000 Cup of Nations tournament co-hosted by Ghana and Nigeria.

A new beginning

Speaking from Mexico, Kalusha said he had joined the coaching staff of the Second Division Mexico City side, Potros Marte, as assistant coach.

Kalusha Bwalya
The midfield maestro being challenged by an Egyptian player
It is believed he is the first African to take up a coaching position in Latin America.

"It's a new chapter for me and I'm enjoying it," Kalusha said about his new coaching job.

He said that he had rejected offers to continue playing beyond the current Mexican season which finished last month.

"Football has been good to me in terms of fitness. I'm very fit at 37, unlike other players who have been forced to retire at an early age on account of injuries," he told the media.

"I feel satisfied with my playing career and I am at peace with myself," he added.


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