By Satish Sekar © Satish Sekar (August 30^th 2021)

Most Titled Club

Mufulira Wanderers and Zambia legend, Patrick Nkole, was a commanding presence in Mighty’s defence. In his prime the most titled club in Zambia’s history won any titles. His favourite match was the Inter-Rhodesia Castle Cup Final in October 1965 – Mufulira Wanderers beat Salisbury City Wanderers 4-3. It was the last edition of that tournament, occurring just a month before the illegal Unilateral Declaration of Independence by Southern Rhodesia’s white supremacist leader, the late Ian Smith.

Mufulira Wanderers is the most titled club in Zambia’s history – Nkana is just one below. The Nkole brothers, the late Edward, Patrick and Zambia’s Gordon Banks, Abraham, played a large part in that success, playing in Mighty’s most successful period. Currently languishing in Eden National Division One, Mighty missed out on promotion to Zambia’s Super League last season. Their last trophy, the Challenge Cup was won almost a quarter of a century ago in 1997.

Legend

As the fortunes of the once great club diminished, some of its great players died young, suffered poverty or serious health conditions. Among those is Patrick Nkole. He lives in Ndola cared for by his family, especially his second wife. The care he needs is large and will be required for the rest of his life.

He cannot walk unaided – in fact he needs others to carry him. I was made aware of his plight months ago by his brother Abraham. I wanted him to be visited to establish his needs by a Foundation that was established to help former sporting people like him. It refused, claiming that it was not permitted to do that.

This was a lie. The Foundation could have visited Nkole and his family and established what their needs were – I know this for fact as after another Foundation was established, partly to aid people such as Nkole, that is exactly what we did.

I have visited Patrick Nkole twice. He is in dire need of assistance for the rest of his life. NHIMA, the National Health Insurance Management Authority, runs the National Health Insurance Scheme, meaning Nkole is entitled to free healthcare at any NHIMA accredited hospital for the rest of his life, but this is not enough.

He needs full care for the rest of his life. He cannot even go into his garden and sit in the sun unaided. He is confined to his house. He doesn’t get a regular balanced diet. He depends on the generosity of others to have proper meals.

Sadly, he has been robbed of his actual memories. He knows that he was a great footballer, that he played for Mufulira Wanderers. But he thinks that everyone was a footballer, whether teammate or opponent, including me and I was never any good.

It’s sad to see a great player who has contributed so much living in such reduced circumstances. He is one of Mufulira Wanderers’ greats. He tries to explain what he can about his career in the first video below:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=baLEib7JZ44  (Mufulira Wanderers legend Patrick Nkole Part One)

and

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AEcZ8LxKybo (Mrs Nkole details Patrick’s needs)

Their needs are huge, but NHIMA will provide assistance. His healthcare needs can be provided for through NHIMA, but he has other needs that will not be available through that scheme such as good food. After years of great service to football, Mufulira United and Zambia, it is the least that he deserves.