Football Session with Coach Signs

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CHRIST MUST NOT BE IGNORED IN FOOTBALL MENTORSHIP

No one is above the law, but please listen to me very carefully.

When I started sports mentorship, it was not only about making money. Yes, I want to make money from my work, but this project started because I saw something that was being ignored.

I see people coming forward to help and mentor young footballers without truly addressing the deeper issues affecting their lives. Mentorship is not just physical. Changing someone's life is not only about talking to them, giving them football experience, or telling them what is right and wrong.

Mentorship must change the way someone lives.

You cannot tell someone that drinking is bad while you are drinking yourself. You cannot tell someone that certain behaviour is wrong while you are living the same lifestyle. If we want to mentor people, we must also be willing to lead by example.

MENTORSHIP IS SPIRITUAL

Discipline is not only physical. It is also spiritual.

For someone to truly understand their journey, they need to understand their spiritual life first. We need to know who gave us the gifts and talents we have.

When someone is advising or mentoring another person, it should not only be because of money. For some of us, this is a calling from God.

Sadly, some men of God and mentors are afraid to tell footballers the truth because they fear that the player may not give them anything. But true mentorship means being able to tell someone when they are wrong, even when it is uncomfortable.

FOOTBALL EXPERIENCE ALONE IS NOT ENOUGH

There is a serious need for this movement.

Football experience is important, but football experience alone cannot change a person's life.

A footballer can have talent, money, fame and a successful career, but what happens when the career ends?

There is life after football.

This is why we need to prepare players spiritually, mentally, socially and for life beyond the final whistle.

I do not blame footballers for every mistake they make. Sometimes the people around them also know how big and powerful the player has become, and they may be afraid to correct them.

When you become a superstar, many things follow you. This is why you need the right people around you who can alert you, correct you and tell you the truth.

CHRIST IN MENTORSHIP

To football clubs, stakeholders, academies, parents and everyone involved in the development of footballers:

Do not ignore Christ in mentorship.

There is a need for organisations and movements that help footballers understand that their lives are bigger than football.

Christ Crusade is part of this vision...helping football players understand Christian values and live a Christ-centred life.

Beyond the Final Whistle focuses on helping footballers understand and prepare for life beyond their playing careers, while guiding them through the challenges that come with football and life.

Football has a final whistle, but life does not end when the football career ends.

WE ARE READY TO WORK WITH YOU

If you are a football club, player, academy, parent, coach, sponsor, football stakeholder or organisation that believes football mentorship should go beyond the pitch, we want to hear from you.

We are looking to work with people and organisations who believe that we must not only develop better footballers, but also develop better people with purpose, discipline, character and faith.

If you believe in this vision, contact us.

Let us work together to change lives.

BEYOND THE FINAL WHISTLE.
FOOTBALL. LIFE. PURPOSE. CHRIST.

Zambia First: Expatriate Coaches Must Add Value, Not Undermine Our Football

There are issues many people are afraid to speak about. As a servant of God, I write what I believe is placed on my heart. Those who are willing to listen will listen.

It is time we honestly examine how we recruit expatriate coaches in Zambia.

Many foreign coaches arrive in Zambia through connections rather than a transparent, merit-based process. Some come seeking an opportunity, but once appointed, they behave as though they are above everyone else. Instead of respecting the football culture they have joined, they often dismiss the work that has already been done by local coaches, players, and officials.

It is disappointing to hear a newly appointed coach speak negatively about previous national teams, claiming that the current generation is “not good enough.” Every player who earns a place in the national team has worked hard to get there. Constructive criticism is part of football, but disrespect is not.

Too often, some expatriate coaches insult players, disregard local officials, and create the impression that their nationality or position makes them superior. They demand conditions as though they are the employers rather than employees entrusted with developing Zambian football.

Even more concerning is that when results do not come, the blame quickly shifts to the players. We hear excuses instead of accountability. Football is a results-driven business, and while no coach can win every match, there must be responsibility for performances.

Before appointing any expatriate coach, Zambia must put Zambia first. Foreign coaches should come to strengthen our football, share knowledge, develop local talent, and leave a positive legacy not to insult our football or use the Zambia national team simply to enhance their coaching CV.

At the same time, this conversation is not only about expatriate coaches. Our local coaches must also be held to the same standards. Before the recent tournament, I raised concerns that we seemed to rely more on talk than on a clear tactical identity. The results reflected those concerns, and when players expressed frustrations, many were simply labelled as undisciplined instead of addressing the underlying issues.

Our senior men’s and women’s national teams should never become platforms for personal marketing or individual ambitions. They exist to represent the nation and to produce results that make Zambians proud.

Zambian football is at a critical stage. Every appointment must be based on competence, professionalism, accountability, and a genuine commitment to developing our game. No coach..local or foreign should be beyond criticism, and no one should be appointed simply because of their reputation or nationality.

It is time to stop believing that everything foreign is automatically better. Respect is earned through performance, character, and results..not by where someone comes from.

Zambia must always come first. Twalumba 🙏🏽🙏🏽

STOP HOLDING PLAYERS HOSTAGE – LET FOOTBALL GROW

Too many players are reaching out with the same painful story. They are neglected at their clubs, not given playing time, and sometimes not even under a salaried contract. Yet the moment they secure an opportunity elsewhere through their own effort, they are suddenly told that a transfer fee must be paid before they can leave.

We need to ask ourselves: if a player is not in your plans, not playing, and has developed an opportunity independently, why stand in the way of their progress? Why demand money for a player you have not invested in and are not using?

Football is about developing players, not controlling careers. We should not treat every player who finds a new club as someone who must be sold. If a player has no realistic chance of playing for your team and wants to pursue game time elsewhere, allow them to move on. That benefits the player, the receiving club, and ultimately Zambian football.

What is even more unfortunate is that when these transfers collapse because of unnecessary demands, the same players are labelled as disrespectful or troublesome. That is unfair. Many are simply trying to continue their careers.

Our football needs leaders who put the game first, not personal interests. If we continue blocking player development for selfish reasons, it is our national teams that will suffer. A nation cannot build strong national teams if talented players are denied opportunities to play consistently.

To the players: please involve the right people before attending trials. Seek guidance from FAWUZ or those who understand the transfer process. Let your club know your intentions through the proper channels. We can help ensure the process is handled professionally and protect your rights.

As for me, I, Signs Chibambo, will continue to stand for what is right. I will continue to speak for players who deserve fair treatment and opportunities to grow. If you are unsure of your rights or need guidance, reach out. Let us work together to protect the future of our game.

Allow players to find consistency. Allow them to play. Allow them to grow.

We are not doing this for individuals…We are doing it for Zambia National Teams 🇿🇲 .
TWALUMBA 🙏🏽🙏🏽

PRE-SEASON: Are We Preparing Footballers or Preparing Runners?

This may spark debate, but it is a conversation we must have if we truly want to improve Zambian football.

Many people believe pre-season is all about running until players become very lean, exhausted, and physically strong. We have created a mindset that the more a player runs, the better footballer he becomes. But football is not athletics.

During my time playing in Israel, Nigeria, and other countries, I experienced a different approach. We still did endurance and fitness training, but almost everything was managed with purpose and time. The sessions were structured. Players would even complain because the intensity was high, yet I would sometimes wonder whether training had already ended because there were no unnecessary marathon runs. Every exercise had a football purpose.

Coming from Zambia, I was used to long-distance running and marathon-style sessions, especially for Cooper tests. We produced players who could run all day, but many struggled with the most important part of the game..playing football.

Have you noticed that when Zambia plays against technically superior teams, we often look physically stronger? Yet after some time we become the tired team. Why?

It is not always because we are unfit.

It is because the opposition understands ball possession, movement, positioning, and decision-making. When a team knows how to keep the ball, they conserve energy. The team chasing the ball is the one that gets tired.

Too often we blame fitness when the real problem is football intelligence.

As we enter another pre-season, my appeal to fellow coaches is simple:

Teach players football.

Teach them:

* When to pass.
* Where to pass.
* How to receive the ball.
* How to create space.
* How to keep possession.
* How to finish chances during open play, not only from set pieces.
* How to defend as a unit.
* How to think before they run.

Players need to learn the game, not just learn how to suffer through endless running sessions.

One mistake we often make is spending weeks running without the ball, then suddenly jumping into friendly matches and expecting the team to perform. How can players display tactical understanding if they have barely trained with the ball?

Sometimes clubs even choose weaker opponents in friendlies just to create the impression that pre-season has gone well. But does that really prepare the team for the league?

Pre-season is not just about team building or physical conditioning. Every training session should include the ball. Fitness and football should go together because football is played with the ball, not without it.

A player can be extremely fit and still be unable to play football effectively. In fact, three well-managed football games can reveal a player’s true match fitness better than endless running around the field.

People say Zambian footballers play “chipante pante.” Before blaming the players, we should ask ourselves: What are we teaching them?

Many of our players are incredibly fast, but they run without purpose. Their heads are programmed to chase, not to think. Modern football demands intelligent players who can read the game, not just outrun opponents.

Let’s stop preparing runners and start preparing footballers.

Football is not won by the team that runs the most. It is won by the team that understands the game the best.

Twalumba 🙏🏽

Sometimes I struggle to understand this.

I grew up in a Christian family believing that talent is a gift from God. When I played in West Africa, I rarely heard successful players being accused of using witchcraft. But back home, it is always:

“Awe uja enzo tenga kuli ba mai bake.”

“Awe uja lyonse ama yenda ku munzi.”

“Awe uja ali na nga’nga yaku Congo.”

“Awe uja anafuntisa mwana wake.”

“Awe coach shani shani ndiye amamu peleka.”

“Awe tayali yakwe.” Yawanga!’’

Why is it that we hardly ever hear, “He made it because he prays,” or “He worked hard and God blessed his talent”?

When I was playing, I never used juju, yet people would still say, “Bakukafue too much juju.” What’s wrong with us as fans? Are we trying to convince ourselves that Zambia has no talent?

Let’s stop being so negative if we want positive results.

Our national team needs more attention. Today, it feels like all we hear is “FAZ this” and “FAZ that,” instead of talking about building a stronger Zambia National Team.

Right now many players are on their off-season. This is the period when they should be kept active with camps and regular friendly matches to maintain fitness, chemistry, and discipline, instead of waiting until a few weeks before competitive games to start experimenting. National teams are built over time, not only when fixtures are around the corner.

I have friends across African football, and it hurts when people tell me that Zambia’s golden generation ended with the players we lost, and that the team rebuilt afterward, with the 2012 AFCON victory being seen as a miracle rather than the result of a long-term football vision.

We are better than that.

Let’s wake up. Change starts with all of us the fans, the players, the coaches, FAZ, the clubs, and everyone who loves Zambian football. Let’s believe in our talent, support our players, and build the future instead of tearing each other down.

Twalumba ⚽️🙏🏽