MACHA ADO ABOUT LEWIS
LEWIS Macha, the man from Maramba in the Livingstone district of the southern province of Zambia, wants to do at new club Kaizer Chiefs what countryman Collins Mbesuma achieved at Amakhosi — be the club’s top goalscorer.
There’s been much ado about Macha since he rose from the bench as a late second-half substitute to score in his maiden bow in optional time when Chiefs crushed the hearts of nemesis Orlando Pirates in the Carling Black Label Champion Cup at the Calabash that is FNB Stadium last weekend.
Anyone who thought that header from a crisp William Twala cross was a flash in the pan must be warned — Macha is on a mission to make bulging the net as natural as breathing.
“My target is to score 20 league goals this season,” he says.
When I point out to him that it would be five goals shy of Mbesuma’s record-breaking tally of 25 in 2005, Macha queries: “Didn’t he score 35?”
“He did,” I respond “but the other 10 came in cup competitions.”
“Okay,” says jersey number 19, “it is going to be 20. That’s my target now and next season — I will beat his record.” Cocky and cheeky loudmouth? Far from it. Macha means business and has done his research on his predecessor.
The omens are good for the man who transferred from Ferroviario de Maputo.
In netting on debut, he mirrored Knowledge Musona, the Zimbabwean international who announced his arrival on the South African soccer scene seven years ago by scoring in his first match for Chiefs against the Buccaneers.
Musona went on to become a top goalscorer for the club.
A cursory glance at Macha’s goal graph at his previous Mozambican employers suggests the 24-year-old will have to work tirelessly to meet his 20-goal target.
After plying his trade for Choma Rangers, Nchanga Rangers and Zanaco between 2010 and his native land to join a team with a name that passes for a paragraph: Grupo De- MORE COMING: Lewis Macha scored on debut for Kaizer Chiefs against Orlando Pirates sportivo da Hidroelectrica de Cahora Bassa de Songo.
His goal graph in Mozambique showed a steady increase.
“I spent three seasons there. In the first season I scored five. Second season seven and then 10,” says Macha.
“I know the expectations and what the coach wants.”
Many wondered when and where Chiefs scouted Macha.
“There’s a game we (played against AS Vita (of Congo) in the (Confederation of African Football Champions League).
“That’s when they saw me. They invited me for a trial. I came for trials for just a week.
“They just said they watched the game against Vita.
“I then spoke to Bobby Motaung and everything was sorted,” he says.
“I was very, very, very happy,” he reflected on scoring on debut.
“It was an achievement for me. The boy just find me in the right position and I score.”
Cocky and cheeky loudmouth? Far from it. Macha means business