{"id":2761,"date":"2021-08-30T11:58:49","date_gmt":"2021-08-30T10:58:49","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/empowersmag.com\/empowersmagwp\/?p=2761"},"modified":"2022-11-17T13:28:26","modified_gmt":"2022-11-17T13:28:26","slug":"the-copperbelt-maestro","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/empowersmag.com\/empowersmagwp\/2021\/08\/30\/the-copperbelt-maestro\/","title":{"rendered":"The Copperbelt Maestro"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Roan United and Zambia legends, Willie Chifita greets Ginger Pensulo<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n

By Satish Sekar \u00a9 Satish Sekar (August 29th<\/sup> 2021)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Trials and Tribulations<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

On April 18th<\/sup> Zambia and Africa suffered a huge blow. Zambia\u2019s Legend of Legends, Ginger Pensulo, passed away aged 86. Known for scoring the iconic goal for humanity in April 1961, Pensulo delivered far more. A skillful midfielder Pensulo dazzled so much that he and his good friend Ken Banda were selected to open doors.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In October 1963 they left sunny Zambia for the cold of Yorkshire \u2013 a six-week trial with Leeds United, then in England\u2019s Second Division. Leeds United was among the pioneers of African football in Britain \u2013 they had already signed South Africa\u2019s Albert Johanneson. And Leeds United deserve credit as they thumbed their noses at white supremacy decades ago when it really mattered \u2013 long before it was fashionable.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

They invited Pensulo and Banda for a trial when white supremacy and colonialism still ruled the roost in Northern Rhodesia. It breached the racist colonial and white supremacist laws of Northern Rhodesia’s Apartheid system. To their credit Leeds United stood up for principle and decency. Neither Banda nor Pensulo were signed, but it opened doors for Leeds United, English football and for talented black African footballers. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Even though Roan United had white players, it was the elegant defender, Banda, and attacking midfield maestro, Pensulo that the ambitious English club was interested in \u2013 both were black \u2013 regardless of the racist laws of Northern Rhodesia at that time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Neither player was signed \u2013 they didn\u2019t adapt to the conditions \u2013 but they had established that Northern Rhodesia, soon to become Zambia had football talent. Before long (the summer of 1967) former Leeds United and Wales legend, John Charles brought a team to Zambia. They played three matches. Charles’ team won the series 2-1, but Pensulo and Godfrey Chitalu scored in the match the Zambians won.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Cardiff City, Sheffield United, and Leicester City followed suit. Within five years of their trial at Leeds United, the first Zambians Emment Kapembwe and Fred Mwila Snr had been signed by Aston Villa.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

No Zambians took English football by storm, although the recent signings of Enock Mwepu and Patson Daka may change that, but both should remember the contribution of the Copperbelt Maestro.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>\n\n\n\n

Recognition<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Despite calls for Pensulo\u2019s immense contribution to Zambian football to be recognised, Zambia\u2019s Legend of Legends quietly disappeared. Pensulo toured South Africa with a Copperbelt Team in 1959. The tour was organised by the Bantu FA, which had been founded in 1931. Pensulo was adored by fans on that tour. He top-scored with nine goals and was dubbed, \u2018Magic Feet,\u2019<\/p>\n\n\n\n

They were not allowed to voice their disgust of the conditions they saw for black people in South Africa. Pensulo later made his feelings clear anyway. He was one of the last survivors of that tour.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I found one on my last trip to Zambia \u2013 watch this space!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>\n\n\n\n

Strange but True<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Pensulo noticed a huge gap in Zambian football \u2013 one he filled. There was a distinct lack of interest in goalkeepers. Magic Feet himself put that right. He began training goalkeepers. Among those to benefit were Emmanuel Mwape and his brother, Kenny, both of whom played for Zambia. Pensulo also assisted Mwape\u2019s predecessor, Happy Malama.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Others to benefit included Ghost Mulenga and Richard Mwanza \u2013 the latter lost his life in the Gabon Plane Crash. Roan United and Zambia legend, Vincent Chileshe paid tribute to Pensulo. He credits Magic Feet for developing his talent. His tribute will be published soon.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

There was far, far more to Ginger Pensulo than people think. Not for nothing is he revered. The debt Zambian football and Zambia owes him can never be repaid.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

By Satish Sekar \u00a9 Satish Sekar (August 29th 2021) Trials and Tribulations On April 18th Zambia and Africa suffered a huge blow. Zambia\u2019s Legend of Legends, [\u2026]<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":3345,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[16,14],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/empowersmag.com\/empowersmagwp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2761"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/empowersmag.com\/empowersmagwp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/empowersmag.com\/empowersmagwp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/empowersmag.com\/empowersmagwp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/empowersmag.com\/empowersmagwp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2761"}],"version-history":[{"count":6,"href":"https:\/\/empowersmag.com\/empowersmagwp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2761\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":3487,"href":"https:\/\/empowersmag.com\/empowersmagwp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2761\/revisions\/3487"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/empowersmag.com\/empowersmagwp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/3345"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/empowersmag.com\/empowersmagwp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2761"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/empowersmag.com\/empowersmagwp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2761"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/empowersmag.com\/empowersmagwp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2761"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}