Collins Mbesuma

Collins Mbesuma
Personal information
Full name Collins Mbesuma
Date of birth (1984-02-03) 3 February 1984 (age 40)
Place of birth Luanshya, Zambia
Height 1.83 m (6 ft 0 in)
Position(s) Striker
Team information
Current team
 Pretoria Callies
Youth career
2001–2002 Wild Antelopes
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2003–2004 Roan United 25 (11)
2004–2005 Kaizer Chiefs 33 (35)
2005–2007 Portsmouth 4 (0)
2006–2007 → Maritimo (loan) 23 (7)
2007–2008 Bursaspor 6 (0)
2008–2009 Mamelodi Sundowns 16 (4)
2009–2010 Moroka Swallows 14 (2)
2010–2012 Golden Arrows 43 (18)
2012–2014 Orlando Pirates 13 (4)
2014–2016 Mpumalanga Black Aces 58 (20)
2016–2018 Highlands Park 15 (4)
2018–2019 Maccabi FC 28 (10)
2019–2021 University of Pretoria 51 (15)
2021– Pretoria Callies
International career‡
2003–2017 Zambia 65 (22)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 00:33, 30 August 2020 (UTC)
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 10 June 2017

Collins Mbesuma (born 3 February 1984) is a Zambian professional footballer who plays for South African club Pretoria Callies.[1] He is nicknamed The Hurricane or Ntofontofo.[2]

Club career

[edit]

Mbesuma was born in Luanshya. His father, Francis Kajiya, was also a football player who played as a midfielder for Zambian clubs; Green Buffaloes FC and Ndola United FC as well as the country's national team from the late 1970s to the early 1980s.

The surname "Mbesuma" is adopted from his step father who raised him as he was not brought up by his biological father Kajiya.

Mbesuma made his debut for Zambia in 2003 and had won four caps by the end of that year, while at the same time being a key member of Zambia's under-23 side that almost qualified for the Athens Olympics.

His performances for the Olympic team caught the attention of Kaizer Chiefs who bought him in January from Roan United in Zambia, where he averaged a goal every other game.

He scored on his debut in South Africa's Premier Soccer League in 2004 against the Black Leopards but injured himself in the process and spent several weeks on the sidelines.

Mbesuma was named PSL Player of the Season in 2005 after scoring a sensational 35 goals in one season with Kaizer Chiefs. After such an achievement a move to a more prestigious league looked assured, and indeed it was enough to catch the eye of Sam Allardyce, manager of Bolton Wanderers (Le Mans UC72 looked to sign him but administrative problems didn't allow Mbesuma to join France[3]). However, Mbesuma was reluctant to take a trial at the club, feeling his quality was already proven, and so this allowed then-Portsmouth manager Alain Perrin to snap him up on a three-year contract in the summer of 2005. Work permit problems due to the low ranking of his country meant he was not given clearance to join the club until late into pre-season.

It was noted that he appeared overweight early in the season when playing for the reserve team. Mbesuma never started a match for Portsmouth; he only came on for a total of four brief substitute appearances, all in the first half of the 2005–06 season. In July 2006, he began a season long loan with CS Marítimo where he appeared to be regaining his form – netting in vital goals early in the season and receiving the Swan d'Or, an auspicious monthly Portuguese football award. However his form soon dipped and his goal tally climaxed at a total of just seven goals. He returned to Portsmouth in June 2007 after playing 23 games for the Portuguese team.

His transfer from Kaizer Chiefs to Portsmouth in August 2005 is one of those about which the Stevens inquiry report in June 2007 expressed concerns, because of the involvement of agent Willie McKay.[4]

On 4 August 2007, it was announced that Bursaspor signed Mbesuma for an undisclosed amount.[5]

On 17 September 2007, Mbesuma was fined 5000 Euros by Bursaspor for failing to return on time to his Turkish base after helping Zambia to beat South Africa in an African Cup of Nations qualifier. This kind of behaviour by Mbesuma was condemned and described as irresponsible by the Zambian FA (FAZ).[6] Mbesuma has a long-standing reputation of poor timekeeping. This problem dates back to his time at Zambian outfit Roan United. In January 2008, Mbesuma was left off the Zambian national squad at the 2008 African Cup of Nations after being declared unfit.[7] On 23 May 2008, Mbesuma mutually terminated his contract with Bursaspor[8] and signed with Mamelodi Sundowns. After an unimpressive stints at Mamelodi Sundowns and then Moroka Swallows FC his contract was terminated at the end of the June 2010.[9] After being clubless for several months he joined Golden Arrows on 20 December 2010 for a six-month deal. He scored his first goals (a brace) against Amazulu on 16 January 2011.[10]

On 16 August 2012, Mbesuma joined Orlando Pirates on a three-year contract,[11] but in July 2014 moved to Mpumalanga Black Aces.[12]

In September 2016, he became only the fifth player in the PSL-era to score 100 league goals.[13]

Career statistics

[edit]
Scores and results list Zambia's goal tally first.[14]
No Date Venue Opponent Score Result Competition
1. 27 July 2003 Independence Stadium, Lusaka, Zambia  Mozambique 4–2 4–2 2003 COSAFA Cup
2. 10 October 2004 Stade Alphonse Massemba-Débat, Brazzaville, Congo  Congo 1–0 3–2 2006 FIFA World Cup qualification
3. 2–0
4. 3–0
5. 26 March 2005 Konkola Stadium, Chililabombwe, Zambia  Congo 2–0 2–0 2006 FIFA World Cup qualification
6. 18 June 2005 Konkola Stadium, Chililabombwe, Zambia  Mali 2–1 2–1 2006 FIFA World Cup qualification
7. 11 July 2005 Independence Stadium, Lusaka, Zambia  Swaziland 1–0 3–0 2005 COSAFA Cup
8. 2–0
9. 12 June 2015 Independence Stadium, Lusaka, Zambia  Malawi 1–1 3–3 2005 CECAFA Cup
10. 2–1
11. 16 June 2007 Konkola Stadium, Chililabombwe, Zambia  Chad 1–1 1–1 2008 Africa Cup of Nations qualification
12. 28 December 2009 Arthur Block Park, Johannesburg, South Africa  Mozambique 1–0 1–0 Friendly
13. 9 February 2011 Mavuso Sports Centre, Manzini, Swaziland  Swaziland 2–0 4–0 Friendly
14. 4 June 2011 Nkoloma Stadium, Lusaka, Zambia  Mozambique 3–0 3–0 2012 Africa Cup of Nations qualification
15. 14 November 2012 FNB Stadium, Johannesburg, South Africa  South Africa 1–0 1–0 Friendly
16. 21 January 2013 Mbombela Stadium, Nelspruit, South Africa  Ethiopia 1–0 1–1 2013 Africa Cup of Nations
17. 24 March 2013 Setsoto Stadium, Maseru, Lesotho  Lesotho 1–0 1–1 2014 FIFA World Cup qualification
18. 8 June 2013 Levy Mwanawasa Stadium, Ndola, Zambia  Lesotho 4–0 4–0 2014 FIFA World Cup qualification
19. 6 September 2015 Nyayo National Stadium, Nairobi, Kenya  Kenya 2–1 2–1 2017 Africa Cup of Nations qualification
20. 4 June 2016 Estádio 24 de Setembro, Bissau, Guinea-Bissau  Guinea-Bissau 1–1 2–3 2017 Africa Cup of Nations qualification
21. 9 October 2016 Levy Mwanawasa Stadium, Ndola, Zambia  Nigeria 1–2 1–2 2018 FIFA World Cup qualification
22. 12 November 2016 Limbe Stadium, Limbe, Cameroon  Cameroon 1–0 1–1 2018 FIFA World Cup qualification

Honours

[edit]

Kaizer Chiefs

CS Marítimo

Mamelodi Sundowns

Moroka Swallows

Zambia

Individual

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "Collins Mbesuma joins Pretoria Callies". Kick Off. 23 July 2021. Retrieved 23 July 2021.
  2. ^ Gleeson, Mark (26 May 2005). "Mbesuma tops in South Africa". BBC News.
  3. ^ "Transfers (France)". Lequipe.fr. 4 July 2007.[dead link]
  4. ^ "What Stevens said about each club". London: Telegraph.co.uk. 16 June 2007. Archived from the original on 11 October 2007. Retrieved 17 June 2007.
  5. ^ "Mbesuma joins Turkey's Bursaspor". Bbc.co.uk. 4 August 2007. Retrieved 5 August 2007.
  6. ^ "Turks fine "missing" Mbesuma R 50, 000". Kickoff.com. 19 September 2007.[permanent dead link]
  7. ^ "Breaking news, special reports, world, business, sport coverage of all South African current events. Africa's news leader". SABC News. Archived from the original on 18 January 2008. Retrieved 21 November 2015.
  8. ^ http://www.ntvspor.net/Pages/24113.ASP. Retrieved 26 May 2008. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)[dead link]
  9. ^ "Has Mzansi given up on Collins Mbesuma? – News". Kick Off. 17 August 2010. Retrieved 21 November 2015.
  10. ^ "Golden Arrows beat AmaZulu – News". Kick Off. 16 January 2011. Archived from the original on 23 May 2012. Retrieved 21 November 2015.
  11. ^ "Pirates signs Mbesuma". Orlando Pirates. Orlandopiratesfc.com. 16 August 2012.
  12. ^ "Collins Mbesuma". Worldfootball.net. 3 February 1984. Retrieved 21 November 2015.
  13. ^ "Mbesuma Joins SA's Exclusive Centurion Club". Soccer Laduma. 26 September 2016. Retrieved 8 August 2017.
  14. ^ "Mbesuma, Collins". National Football Teams. Retrieved 1 April 2017.
[edit]
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