Kalusha Bwalya

Kalusha Bwalya, born on August sixteenth, nineteen sixty-three, is a celebrated Zambian former professional footballer and coach. Renowned for his exceptional skills on the pitch, he stands as Zambia's eighth-most capped player and ranks third among the nation's all-time top goalscorers, trailing only behind legends Godfrey Chitalu and Alex Chola.

In nineteen eighty-eight, Kalusha was honored as the African Footballer of the Year by France Football, a testament to his remarkable talent. His prowess was further recognized when he was nominated for the 1996 FIFA World Player of the Year, where he achieved the impressive distinction of being voted the twelfth-best player globally, a notable feat for someone playing outside of Europe.

Football runs in the Bwalya family, with Kalusha's older brother, Benjamin, and younger brother, Joel, both having played professionally for Zambia. Additionally, he is related to Robert Earnshaw, a former Cardiff City player and member of the Welsh national team. Kalusha's multifaceted career, which includes roles as a player, coach, and president of the Football Association of Zambia, is partially chronicled in the documentary film 'Eighteam.'

In March twenty-sixteen, Kalusha faced a surprising defeat in the FAZ elections, losing to businessman Andrew Kamanga by a narrow margin of seven votes. His career faced a setback in August twenty-eighteen when FIFA imposed a one-year ban on him from all football-related activities due to alleged ethical violations. However, he was later cleared of any wrongdoing, reaffirming his legacy as one of the greatest players in Zambian football history.