Soccer Laduma

Lungu: The goals will start flowing

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“My teammates were telling me to go off.”

“Zambian football is more physical.”

Signing for a new team in a foreign country and being asked to slot into a new position on debut, against one of the biggest sides in that country, can be considered a tough ask, but Gamphani Lungu took it all in his stride and received full marks for his SuperSport United display against Orlando Pirates. However, he was signed to score goals and not to prevent them from being scored and, in this interview, tells Soccer Laduma’s Beaver Nazo that it’s just a matter of time before he does just that. The 20-year-old also talks about Zambian football and the pain of losing the MTN8 final.

Beaver Nazo: Gamphani, welcome to Soccer Laduma’s pages and Mzansi’s top-flight. You scored 17 goals and made 22 assists for National Assembly last season. Impressive.

Gamphani Lungu: That was by far my best season! I was playing as a striker and enjoying my game. I scored 17 goals and even today I’m still proud of that achievemen­t. I really did well there.

BN: When SuperSport United signed you, they left you in Zambia with Power Dynamos. Did the thought of them not coming back ever cross your mind?

GL: No, not at all. They made it clear to me that I would be joining the team in July and I did. I knew that I was coming to Mzansi. I am here now. I just needed to work extra hard.

BN: Your very first game for Matsatsant­sa a Pitori was as a substitute against AmaZulu. How was the experience of running out for your first Absa Premiershi­p game?

GL: Yho, it was exciting. I was really looking forward to it. Not everyone gets to play so soon for their new team, without having to sit a few games on the bench. When they called me while we were warming up, I was like, ‘Yho, I will get onto the field now!’

BN: Your first start though was against Orlando Pirates in the MTN8 semi-final. Surprising­ly, you were played at right back position.

GL: Look, there was no one to play there. It was difficult at first because I was not used to it, but I told myself that I had to get on with it because it’s not like goalkeepin­g. Besides, in football, the more positions you play the more chances of playing you will get. When the coach, players and everyone have confidence in you, it makes things easy for you. I couldn’t let that opportunit­y slip. I even finished the game with a cut on my knee. My teammates were telling me to go off, but I told them that all I needed was a bandage and I would carry on. Fortunatel­y, I finished the game.

BN: You obviously did well and, after the game, coach Kaitano Tembo singled you out for praise, going on to reveal that he would convert you into a right winger.

GL: Yeah, he told me and that is mainly because of the system that we play because we play with three strikers. So that is the winger that he was referring to. He wants me to be on the sides, not in the middle. I have pace and that is what the coach likes about me. That is why he plays me there.

BN: As if not to be outdone by the coach, captain Dean Furman was also impressed, describing your performanc­e as “gutsy one and outstandin­g”.

GL: It was really amazing to get a praise from a man who played in the English Championsh­ip. He really praised me for that performanc­e and asked me to keep my focus levels at the top. I really felt special after that encounter. I was still new and then dished out that sort of performanc­e. I will start scoring soon, just watch!

BN: How many goals are we talking about here?

GL: Well, that’s a very difficult one hey, ha, ha, ha. You know, one thing I know about football is that you might experience a drought, but once you get that first goal, it opens the floodgates and you end up scoring more. The sooner I get my first goal, the sooner everything will start flowing for me. BN: Pity you guys missed out on a chance of retaining the trophy you won last season, the MTN8, losing to Cape Town City in the final.

GL: That defeat broke us, man. We all know that in football, you win some and lose some, but it doesn’t make losing that final any less painful. But we need to shake it off completely – it’s dead and buried. It’s football and we need to show that we have hearts of winners. We cannot hold on to the past. BN: You are facing Mamelodi Sundowns in a Tshwane Derby on Sunday. Tough one!

GL: All I can say is that we are ready to face Sundowns. They are a very good side with lots of quality and talented players. We respect them, but we are a bunch of hardworkin­g players with a good coach who has played for the club. He has played so many of these derbies and he knows what to expect from Sundowns. BN: They have won the last two derbies against you though.

GL: That will not have any impact on this one. A derby is a different game where even players at training are all gunning for a place in the team. This is going to be a tough one… that’s all I can say. BN: Let’s now talk Zambian football v Absa Premiershi­p football… GL: Zambian football is more physical and there’s no space afforded to you. If you are able to turn and shoot, then you’re very lucky. There’s no space to turn at all and no matter what you’re doing, the opponent is always hot on your heels. Here in Absa Premiershi­p, you have too much space on the ball. Zambian football is tough. However, some games we changed the formation to 4-4-2 and I would play as an out-and-out winger. I’m just happy to play, irrespecti­ve of where.

BN: You were a goalscorer of note in Zambia, if the numbers are anything to go by.

GL: I thank my former teammates for everything because without them I wouldn’t have scored that many goals. We had been together for a long time, so we knew and understood each other very well. They knew where I liked to receive the ball mostly. We sort of became more like a family. For example, my fellow striker would receive the ball and I would be making a run from the blind side because we had an understand­ing… he would know where I was and would just flick the ball without even looking at me.

BN: What do you make of your fellow Zambians who play in the same league as you, like Kennedy Mweene, Justine Shonga, Augustine Mulenga, Davis Nkausu and Mwape Musonda?

GL: Kennedy has been in the game for a very long time and has seen it all, winning almost every trophy in Africa. He is a good guy on and off the pitch, but in saying that, we are all friends and we talk. I am learning a lot from all of them because they’ve been in the game for far too long and they all take time to share their experience­s with me. BN: What about your compatriot, Billy Mutale, who has been training with SuperSport? GL: He is here and is starting to get to his usual self now. He’s been here for two months or so and he is doing well after the injury he sustained. He is training with the team now. He has signed for the club and is waiting for his chance. BN: Tell us more about the Zambian league. GL: You know, there are certain places where people appreciate football more than the others. In my home town, Lusaka, our support was not as much as it is where Power Dynamos come from, but in Nkana that is where football is the number one priority. That is where people really love football. It doesn’t matter where and what t ime the game is played, Nkana Red Devils will always have a full house. There’s also newly promoted Wanderers, who attract huge crowds. Power Dy- n a m o s also have a large following in their home games, even away games actually. As for the culture, football is the number one sport in Zambia and the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations triumph is still celebrated to this day. People there love football and that is why the country produces good players.

BN: Zambia have failed to qualify for next year’s AFCON. Where did it go wrong?

GL: We tried our best, man. It was really difficult for us. All things are being set by God man and maybe God decided that this time is not for us to go to the tournament. But the coach has built a very strong, young team for the future and by the time the next qualifiers start, we will be a formidable side and we will qualify for the next AFCON. Yes, it is a setback for us to fail to qualify now, but it may be a blessing later when this young team has finally gelled.

BN: Vardy, we will be waiting with keen anticipati­on for that first goal. We wish you well.

GL: It’s coming, big man, don’t worry. It was a pleasure talking to you. ❐

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 ?? Twitter l @ GamphaniLu­ngu17 Facebook l Gamphani Jones Lungu Instagram l @GamphiJ ??
Twitter l @ GamphaniLu­ngu17 Facebook l Gamphani Jones Lungu Instagram l @GamphiJ

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