Alex Chola
Encyclopedia
Alex Chola was a Zambian
international footballer of the 1970s and early 1980s. A talented attacking midfielder, he is regarded (along with Godfrey Chitalu
) as one of the best Zambian footballers of his generation. Because of his talent, he was nicknamed "computer" as he could read with ease where the ball was coming from, or who he was to pass it next.
The late Simon Kaodi Kaushi, who played for Mufulira Blackpool and Zambia, is credited with having discovered the talent of Chola and his young brother Pascal Kunda who later played for Ndola United. Chola was later to leave Blackpool after catching the eye of the Power Dynamos hierarchy in Kitwe.
Chola was Zambian footballer of the year in 1976 and together with clubmate Peter Kaumba played for an Ivorian team Africa Sports in the early 80's before returning to Zambia.
He played for Zambia at the 1980 Summer Olympics
in Moscow. Chola also played for the senior side at the 1982 African Cup of Nations
finals and in several FIFA World Cup
qualifying matches.
Chola later moved into coaching as assistant to Freddie Mwila at Power Dynamos and was in the technical team that led Dynamos to the 1991 African Cup Winners Cup after victory over BCC Lions of Nigeria. The following year Chola took over as head coach after Mwila's departure and at the end of the season had won the Zambian coach of the year trophy. This was a remarkable achievement in that more than half of the Dynamos team had been suspended for a season for boycotting the defence of their Cup Winners Cup so he led a Dynamos team of mostly younf untested players.
In late 1992, Chola was appointed National team assistant coach to Godfrey Chitalu. The pair died in the 1993 air disaster off the coast of Gabon which claimed several members of Zambia's national team.
In 2006, he was selected by CAF
as one of the best 200 African football players of the last 50 years.
Zambia national football team
The Zambia national football team represents the country of Zambia in the sport of association football and is governed by the Football Association of Zambia. Before independence they were known as the Northern Rhodesia national football team. The side is nicknamed Chipolopolo as copper is one of...
international footballer of the 1970s and early 1980s. A talented attacking midfielder, he is regarded (along with Godfrey Chitalu
Godfrey Chitalu
Godfrey Chitalu was a Zambian footballer who is regarded as the greatest Zambian player ever and is also believed to hold the national team goal-scoring record...
) as one of the best Zambian footballers of his generation. Because of his talent, he was nicknamed "computer" as he could read with ease where the ball was coming from, or who he was to pass it next.
The late Simon Kaodi Kaushi, who played for Mufulira Blackpool and Zambia, is credited with having discovered the talent of Chola and his young brother Pascal Kunda who later played for Ndola United. Chola was later to leave Blackpool after catching the eye of the Power Dynamos hierarchy in Kitwe.
Chola was Zambian footballer of the year in 1976 and together with clubmate Peter Kaumba played for an Ivorian team Africa Sports in the early 80's before returning to Zambia.
He played for Zambia at the 1980 Summer Olympics
1980 Summer Olympics
The 1980 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XXII Olympiad, was an international multi-sport event celebrated in Moscow in the Soviet Union. In addition, the yachting events were held in Tallinn, and some of the preliminary matches and the quarter-finals of the football tournament...
in Moscow. Chola also played for the senior side at the 1982 African Cup of Nations
1982 African Cup of Nations
The 1982 African Cup of Nations was the 13th edition of the African Cup of Nations, the soccer championship of Africa . It was hosted by Libya. Just like in 1980, the field of eight teams was split into two groups of four...
finals and in several FIFA World Cup
FIFA World Cup
The FIFA World Cup, often simply the World Cup, is an international association football competition contested by the senior men's national teams of the members of Fédération Internationale de Football Association , the sport's global governing body...
qualifying matches.
Chola later moved into coaching as assistant to Freddie Mwila at Power Dynamos and was in the technical team that led Dynamos to the 1991 African Cup Winners Cup after victory over BCC Lions of Nigeria. The following year Chola took over as head coach after Mwila's departure and at the end of the season had won the Zambian coach of the year trophy. This was a remarkable achievement in that more than half of the Dynamos team had been suspended for a season for boycotting the defence of their Cup Winners Cup so he led a Dynamos team of mostly younf untested players.
In late 1992, Chola was appointed National team assistant coach to Godfrey Chitalu. The pair died in the 1993 air disaster off the coast of Gabon which claimed several members of Zambia's national team.
In 2006, he was selected by CAF
Confederation of African Football
The Confederation of African Football is the administrative and controlling body for African association football.CAF represents the national football associations of Africa, runs continental, national, and club competitions, and controls the prize money, regulations and media rights to those...
as one of the best 200 African football players of the last 50 years.