By Satish Sekar © Satish Sekar (August 31^st 2021)

Unique

The Nkole brothers played an important part in the storied history of Mighty Mufulira Wanderers. Edward is sadly deceased, Patrick, a commanding presence in the defence, faces an uncertain future, robbed of most of his memories. Patrick’s plight is heart-rending and will be highlighted soon. He needs and deserves planned assistance suited to his needs now and for the rest of his life. His brother, Abraham, is a caring and very talented man.

Known as Zambia’s Gordon Banks – long after he retired, he’s 71 now – people still greet him as Gordon Banks. But Nkole was not just a great goalkeeper. He was a member of Zambia’s Africa Cup of Nations squad of 1974, the first time Zambia reached the final, losing the only replay in the tournament’s history in Egypt. Nkole was the reserve keeper – Emmanuel Mwape was the first choice.

Their rivalry boasts a unique feature. Nkole was a very talented sportsman. Football won his commitment, but his first and most memorable encounter with Roan United’s Mwape wasn’t between the sticks.

Records

German great Manuel Neuer is rightly celebrated. The sweeper-keeper revolutionised the position, proving that gifted goalkeepers can play too. Neuer is comfortable on the ball and can play his teams out of defence. He inspires confidence in the defence and team.

But before the sweeper-keeper, Zambia not only had its own version of Gordon Banks, they had a total footballer in Abraham Nkole.

Ndola’s iconic stadium is not and never will be the Levy Mwanawasa – that is not a knock on it. Before the Levy Mwanawasa was built, Ndola boasted Zambia’s fortress. Zambia was never defeated at the Dag Hammarskjöld Stadium. The biggest mistake Zambian football ever made was sacking its own fortress. It was knocked down in the 1980s – the plan to rebuild it never materialised. That’s an important story for another day.

Naturally it featured some great matches. Most remember important international matches. The only CAF record set in Zambia happened at that stadium almost 50 years ago. Kabwe Warriors, playing their first ever African Cup of Champions Clubs campaign, demolished Lesotho’s then champions, Majantja, 9-0 in the second leg. That record has been surpassed by Raja Casablanca, Difaâ Hassani d’el Jadida and Mamelodi Sundowns. However, one record set in that match on February 6^th 1972 still stands almost half a century later.

The late Sandford Mvula and Boniface Simutowe scored a goal apiece. Africa’s Goal King, the late great Godfrey Chitalu, rewrote the record books, scoring a magnificent seven in the match, to add to his brace in the first leg. This match is hard to beat, but for some (to be highlighted in future articles) it is not their favourite memory of Chitalu at the Dag.

The Striker-Keeper

Naturally, Nkole’s favourite memory of the Dag Hammarskjöld Stadium is a personal one. But surprisingly for many it is not a win for Zambia with him playing between the sticks. Zambia’s Gordon Banks’ favourite experience is a club match and he wasn’t the goalkeeper.

“My favourite match at the Dag Hammarskjöld Stadium was the Castle Cup Final,” Nkole said.

We beat Roan United 5-4.”

Roan United’s keeper that day in 1971 was Mwape. What made it so memorable?

“I scored four goals,” Nkole says. Records show he scored at least a hat-trick, but Nkole is adamant that he scored four.

Football’s Ambassador

On my last trip to Zambia I discovered the importance of NHIMA (the National Health Insurance Management Authority). It runs the National Health Insurance Scheme which provides free healthcare for all Zambians over 65 years old. Excoriated now, this is one of the positive legacies of the Patriotic Front’s government of former President Edgar Lungu.

The scheme was introduced in 2019. Sadly, people whose lives could have been saved were not aware of it. That is a huge pity. I spoke to Nkole about it. He was very enthusiastic. He was the first former footballer that we got registered for NHIMA. The benefits were explained to him by Anita Kambi. Nkole encourages both former footballers to register for NHIMA.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tYP28qWTc-E (Abraham Nkole’s appeal to former players to register for NHIMA)

Nkole has led a drive, supported by his former club, the most titled club in Zambian history, Mufulira Wanderers, to get his teammates and opponents registered for NHIMA. But he wants more – all Zambians who are eligible to get their entitlement by registering for NHIMA too.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q1tovV3UJuY (Abraham Nkole urges all eligible Zambians to resister for NHIMA now!)

Long after his great career on the pitch ended, Nkole remains a legend off it.