Fellow Mourners
It is with deep sorrow that i stand here on behalf of Power Dynamos Football Club to pay tribute to our departed legend, coach Fordson Kabole.
I believe that many of us first came to know or hear of Mr. Kabole when he commenced his coaching journey as trainer of Mutondo Stars in the late 70s and early 80s, a period the soccer fraternity referred to him as Bobby Moore. from that time onwards, many of us here have so many accolades and good things to say about the great man.
One common issue is that, from the onset, the man was set to be a successful coach and would inevitably attract the attention of bigger clubs locally and internationally. It’s against this background that i pick up one chapter in the great story of his life, his move to power dynamos in 2009. Mr. Kabole, assisted by among others, Beston Chambishi, Linos Makwaza and Martin Mwamba, assembled a formidable squad and introduced a unique brand of fast transitional passing football, earning the team the nickname of the Barcelona of africa. His philosophy was simple but effective and it refined attacking football anchored on fitness and endurance.
Under him, Power Dynamos became untouchable, and it came as no surprise when in 2011, the team won the league championship, with a remarkable feat of going unbeaten in the last 15 games of that season.
He achieved this through a well drilled squad which included Joshua Titima, Elliot Phiri, Govenda Simwala, Lawrence Chungu, Billy Imonda, Kamuzati Kabwe, Emmanuel Chimpinde, Simon Bwalya, Joseph Sitali, Mukuka Mulenga, Lottie Phiri, Luka Lungu, Alex Ngonga, Felix Nyaende, Kennedy Mudenda and many other talented and dedicated players. It was such a joy to watch power.
During his era, the team also participated in the africa champions league, including a titanic clash with the legendary TP Mazembe.
After he left the club, it took Power Dynamos 12 years to win the league under a technical bench that included some of his coaching students, Mwenya Chipepo, Linos Makwaza, Martin Mwamba, Kenny Muma and Songwe Chalwe. To sum it up, the man meets the correct classification of a legend.
Finally, while a lot may be said about the man as a coach, even more can be said about the traits that distinguished the character of the man. Mr. Kabole was a humble man, very soft spoken and fatherly. He was fondly referred to as “bane” by his players because of the good way he treated them, pushing them and gently shouting “Tiyeni bane Tiyeni bane”. He also loved power dynamos to the end, as he always watched the team from his special allocated seat next to Mr. Peter Kaumba.
So today we not only celebrate the life of a legend, but a great phenomenal man who made a remarkable impact on the football fraternity and all the people whose lives he touched.
May His Soul Rest in Peace.
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