Charly Musonda
Encyclopedia
Charles Musonda also known as Charly Musonda is a former Zambian professional football player. At his peak, he played as a midfielder for Belgian Champions Anderlecht
.
, Ashious Melu
and Efford Chabala
. It was not long before Musonda made his international debut on 19.11.1985 against Zaire
in Kinshasa in a friendly which Zambia won 1–0
Musonda manned Zambia’s midfield in their first game at the 1986 African Cup of Nations
tournament in Egypt against Cameroun
but his tournament ended early when he got injured. This turned out to be the only African Nations Cup that Musonda would take part in.In his prime, he was considered to be better than pele.Te bufi iyooo.
After Kalusha Bwalya signed for Cercle Brugge in December 1985, Musonda followed suit, also signing for Brugge in March 1986 for $25,000 where it was discovered that one of his legs was slightly shorter than the other, a condition no one had noticed while he was in Zambia. This caused him some discomfort until he started playing in specially designed boots. He stayed at Cercle Brugge for a season and then moved to Anderlecht where despite his young age, he become one of the key players of the team. In his first two seasons at Anderlecht, Musonda would twice win the Belgian Cup
.
His debut as a professional for Zambia came in 1988 against Ghana in Lusaka which Zambia won 2–0 and Musonda did not disappoint, tellingly imposing himself on the game. He was one of the star players at the 1988 Summer Olympics
in Seoul
as Zambia became the first African Country to make it to the quarter finals of the games, trouncing Italy and Guatemala with 4–0 scorelines.
Musonda’s performances won him many admirers with many in Zambia calling him a mid-field genius who was the most skillful player of his generation. Popular soccer magazine France Football
were also in on the act describing him as ‘lacking a bit in height but what he lacks, he makes up in skill.’
In 1991, Musonda would also win the Belgian First division title and the following year featured for Anderlecht in the European Cup Winners final with an impressive performance despite losing to Sampdoria 2–0. Sampdoria considered signing him but an injury put an end to their interest. Throughout his career in Europe, Musonda suffered a number injuries which led to him playing only a few games for his country. This also did not endear him to fans as some of them felt that he chose his club over his country. The injuries also meant that Musonda started to become unsure of his place in the first team, but he decided to stay at Anderlecht.
When a plane carrying the Zambian National team developed problems and plunged into the Atlantic Ocean off the coast of Gabon on 28 April 1993 killing all 30 people on board including crew members and Football Association of Zambia
president Michael Mwape, Musonda was traumatisd as he was supposed to have been on the same plane. According to one report, he was called-up by the national coach Godfrey Chitalu
for the 1994 World Cup qualification match against Senegal but Anderlecht's team manager, Michel Verschueren, asked him to refuse the invitation and to play for Anderlecht, which Musonda did and therefore missed the fateful flight though in an interview Musonda himself disclosed that when he first heard about the plane crash, he was in bed recovering from knee surgery and that was what saved his life. He would undergo seven operations on the same knee between 1991 and 1996.
He then stated that he had been so affected by the crash that he would not play for his country again. This saw Kalusha Bwayla soldiering on with a new team that came within a point of qualifying for the World Cup won the silver medal at the 1994 African Cup of Nations
in Tunisia.
Zambian fans were unhappy that Musonda had not featured for Zambia in their attempt to make it to the World Cup as he had rescinded his decision not to play for Zambia but subsequently claimed he was injured. In the final qualifying game against Morocco, Musonda came on as a substitute despite clearly not being match fit and in the dying minutes of the game almost got the much needed equalizing goal that Zambia needed to book a ticket to the USA 94 World Cup but got a boot in the face and lost a tooth for his troubles as referee Jean-Fidel Diramba ignored the Zambians' penalty appeals. This turned out to be Musonda’s last ever appearance for Zambia.
In November 1995, Musonda almost made a comeback for Zambia under Roald Poulsen
during the Simba Four Nations tournament in South Africa but he suffered a recurrence of an old injury during training. In January 1997, another comeback was in the offing as Zambia faced South Africa in a crucial 1998 World Cup qualifier but there were reports of a falling out between him and Bwalya and Musonda pulled out of the game claiming he had a pulled muscle and Zambia only managed a goalless draw.
In the 1996–1997 season
, Musonda was loaned to Sacramento Scorpions
in the US and enjoyed a career resurgence but he would eventually leave Anderlecht and move to Energie Cottbus
in the German Second division
. It all would not matter much as another injury put an end to his career in 1998 at the age of 29.
Musonda returned to Anderlecht to become a youth coach and kit manager for the first team.
.
R.S.C. Anderlecht
Royal Sporting Club Anderlecht, usually known as Anderlecht or RSCA , is a Belgian professional football club based in Anderlecht in the Brussels Capital Region. Anderlecht plays in the Belgian Pro League and is the most successful Belgian football team in European competitions as well as in the...
.
Career
Musonda started playing football in his hometown, at Mufulira Wanderers, swiftly rising through the junior ranks when it became clear that he was exceptionally gifted and had no peers. He made his debut for Wanderers in the 1985 Zambian football season as a teenager, featuring alongside players such as Kalusha BwalyaKalusha Bwalya
Kalusha Bwalya , known as simply Kalusha, is a Zambian footballer and coach. He is Zambia's most capped player, all-time top goalscorer, and is regarded as the greatest Zambian player to play the game...
, Ashious Melu
Ashious Melu
Ashious Jordan Melu also known as Ashios or Ashols Melu was a Zambian footballer and coach who captained the national team from 1988 to 1992 and is credited with having one of the hardest shots in Zambian football.-Playing career:Melu was born in Chililabombwe on June 6, 1957 and attended...
and Efford Chabala
David Chabala
David Efford Chabala , popularly known as Efford Chabala was Zambia's first choice goalkeeper from 1983 until his death in a plane crash off the Gabonese coast in 1993 and is probably Zambia’s most capped player, an achievement which has often been attributed to Kalusha Bwalya, his former team...
. It was not long before Musonda made his international debut on 19.11.1985 against Zaire
Zaire
The Republic of Zaire was the name of the present Democratic Republic of the Congo between 27 October 1971 and 17 May 1997. The name of Zaire derives from the , itself an adaptation of the Kongo word nzere or nzadi, or "the river that swallows all rivers".-Self-proclaimed Father of the Nation:In...
in Kinshasa in a friendly which Zambia won 1–0
Musonda manned Zambia’s midfield in their first game at the 1986 African Cup of Nations
1986 African Cup of Nations
The 1986 African Cup of Nations was the 15th edition of the African Cup of Nations, the soccer championship of Africa . It was hosted by Egypt. Just like in 1984, the field of eight teams was split into two groups of four...
tournament in Egypt against Cameroun
Cameroun
Cameroun was a French and British mandate territory in central Africa, now constituting the majority of the territory of the Republic of Cameroon....
but his tournament ended early when he got injured. This turned out to be the only African Nations Cup that Musonda would take part in.In his prime, he was considered to be better than pele.Te bufi iyooo.
After Kalusha Bwalya signed for Cercle Brugge in December 1985, Musonda followed suit, also signing for Brugge in March 1986 for $25,000 where it was discovered that one of his legs was slightly shorter than the other, a condition no one had noticed while he was in Zambia. This caused him some discomfort until he started playing in specially designed boots. He stayed at Cercle Brugge for a season and then moved to Anderlecht where despite his young age, he become one of the key players of the team. In his first two seasons at Anderlecht, Musonda would twice win the Belgian Cup
Belgian Cup
The Belgian Cup is the main knockout football competition in Belgium, run by the Belgian Football Association. The first cup was held in 1911-12. The most successful cup club is Club Brugge KV with 10 titles followed by RSC Anderlecht and R Standard de Liège...
.
His debut as a professional for Zambia came in 1988 against Ghana in Lusaka which Zambia won 2–0 and Musonda did not disappoint, tellingly imposing himself on the game. He was one of the star players at the 1988 Summer Olympics
1988 Summer Olympics
The 1988 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XXIV Olympiad, were an all international multi-sport events celebrated from September 17 to October 2, 1988 in Seoul, South Korea. They were the second summer Olympic Games to be held in Asia and the first since the 1964 Summer Olympics...
in Seoul
Seoul
Seoul , officially the Seoul Special City, is the capital and largest metropolis of South Korea. A megacity with a population of over 10 million, it is the largest city proper in the OECD developed world...
as Zambia became the first African Country to make it to the quarter finals of the games, trouncing Italy and Guatemala with 4–0 scorelines.
Musonda’s performances won him many admirers with many in Zambia calling him a mid-field genius who was the most skillful player of his generation. Popular soccer magazine France Football
France Football
France Football is a French bi-weekly magazine containing football news from all over the world. It's one of the most reputable sports publications in Europe, mostly because of their photographic reports and accurate statistics of the big European Cup matches, and extensive coverage of the European...
were also in on the act describing him as ‘lacking a bit in height but what he lacks, he makes up in skill.’
In 1991, Musonda would also win the Belgian First division title and the following year featured for Anderlecht in the European Cup Winners final with an impressive performance despite losing to Sampdoria 2–0. Sampdoria considered signing him but an injury put an end to their interest. Throughout his career in Europe, Musonda suffered a number injuries which led to him playing only a few games for his country. This also did not endear him to fans as some of them felt that he chose his club over his country. The injuries also meant that Musonda started to become unsure of his place in the first team, but he decided to stay at Anderlecht.
When a plane carrying the Zambian National team developed problems and plunged into the Atlantic Ocean off the coast of Gabon on 28 April 1993 killing all 30 people on board including crew members and Football Association of Zambia
Football Association of Zambia
The Football Association of Zambia is the governing body of football in Zambia. It was founded in 1929, and affiliated to FIFA in 1964. It is also a member of the Confederation of African Football. It organizes the national football league and the national team.- External links :* * at the FIFA...
president Michael Mwape, Musonda was traumatisd as he was supposed to have been on the same plane. According to one report, he was called-up by the national coach 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...
for the 1994 World Cup qualification match against Senegal but Anderlecht's team manager, Michel Verschueren, asked him to refuse the invitation and to play for Anderlecht, which Musonda did and therefore missed the fateful flight though in an interview Musonda himself disclosed that when he first heard about the plane crash, he was in bed recovering from knee surgery and that was what saved his life. He would undergo seven operations on the same knee between 1991 and 1996.
He then stated that he had been so affected by the crash that he would not play for his country again. This saw Kalusha Bwayla soldiering on with a new team that came within a point of qualifying for the World Cup won the silver medal at the 1994 African Cup of Nations
1994 African Cup of Nations
-Group B:---------Group C:---------Group D:---------Knockout Stages:-Quarterfinals:-------------Semifinals:-----Third place playoff:-Final:-Scorers:5 goals Rashidi Yekini4 goals Joël Tiéhi...
in Tunisia.
Zambian fans were unhappy that Musonda had not featured for Zambia in their attempt to make it to the World Cup as he had rescinded his decision not to play for Zambia but subsequently claimed he was injured. In the final qualifying game against Morocco, Musonda came on as a substitute despite clearly not being match fit and in the dying minutes of the game almost got the much needed equalizing goal that Zambia needed to book a ticket to the USA 94 World Cup but got a boot in the face and lost a tooth for his troubles as referee Jean-Fidel Diramba ignored the Zambians' penalty appeals. This turned out to be Musonda’s last ever appearance for Zambia.
In November 1995, Musonda almost made a comeback for Zambia under Roald Poulsen
Roald Poulsen
Roald Poulsen is a Danish football manager, who most prominently won the 1989 Danish championship with Odense BK and managed the Zambia national football team....
during the Simba Four Nations tournament in South Africa but he suffered a recurrence of an old injury during training. In January 1997, another comeback was in the offing as Zambia faced South Africa in a crucial 1998 World Cup qualifier but there were reports of a falling out between him and Bwalya and Musonda pulled out of the game claiming he had a pulled muscle and Zambia only managed a goalless draw.
In the 1996–1997 season
Jupiler League 1996-97
-Relegated teams:These teams were relegated to the second division at the end of the season:*KV Mechelen*Cercle Brugge-Final league table:...
, Musonda was loaned to Sacramento Scorpions
Sacramento Scorpions
The Sacramento Scorpions were an American soccer team that played in Sacramento, California.-Year-by-year:...
in the US and enjoyed a career resurgence but he would eventually leave Anderlecht and move to Energie Cottbus
Energie Cottbus
FC Energie Cottbus is a German association football club based in Cottbus, Lusatia . It was founded in 1963 as SC Cottbus in what was, at the time, East Germany...
in the German Second division
2. Fußball-Bundesliga
- Changes in division set-up :* Number of clubs: currently 18. From 1974 to 1981 there were two conferences, each of 20 teams. In 1981–91 it had 20...
. It all would not matter much as another injury put an end to his career in 1998 at the age of 29.
Musonda returned to Anderlecht to become a youth coach and kit manager for the first team.
Personal life
Musonda has three sons Lamisha (16), Tyka(14) and Charles Jnr. (12) who all feature for Anderlecht’s youth teams with Lamisha being touted to feature for Zambia’s U-17 national team. Musonda’s son Lamisha featured in the goal project with David BeckhamDavid Beckham
David Robert Joseph Beckham, OBE is an English footballer who plays midfield for Los Angeles Galaxy in Major League Soccer, having previously played for Manchester United, Preston North End, Real Madrid, and A.C...
.