By Satish Sekar © Satish Sekar (February 6^th 2024)

Ucar’s Records

It is surely time that the late great African legend Godfrey Chitalu’s African Champions Clubs records are properly acknowledged. On this incredible night at the now defunct Dag Hammarsskjöld Stadium in Ndola 52 years ago Chitalu made history, setting four African Champions Clubs records in the process. Kabwe Warriors’ scored the most goals by a club in a Champions Clubs tie (11) and the most goals by a club in a Champions Clubs match (9) against Lesotho’s then champions, Majantja, although both of those records have since been broken. Mamelodi Sundowns now hold both records).

Chitalu also set two individual records in that tie as well – the most goals by an individual in a Champions Clubs tie (9), and the most goals by an individual in a Champions Clubs match (7). The latter record still stands to this day.

Incredibly, these goals are the missing goals of Chitalu’s wonder year. He didn’t score 107 goals in the calendar year 1972, he scored those during the Zambian season, which lasted from late February to December.

The contemporary newspaper records and recollections of players of both teams tell thrilling tales of Chitalu’s achievements on January 23^rd 1972 and a fortnight later. Remarkably African football has yet to acknowledge Chitalu’s first goals of 1972. Majantja’s goalkeeper in that tie, Lebohang Nteko called on the Confédération Africain de Football to acknowledge these goals, saying ‘it would be very, very wrong’ not to acknowledge them.

African football should acknowledge these records, scored by Africa’s record holder in internationals – his nearest challenger still playing, Mohamed Salah is level with Cameroonian Football Federation President, Samuel Eto’o Fils on 56, over 20 behind Chitalu.