Nigeria legend Segun Odegbami has become the latest ex-footballer to implore the Confederation of African Football (CAF) to give the late free-scoring Zambian icon Godfrey “Ucar” Chitalu the honour due his name.
The Football Association of Zambia (FAZ) has previously made attempts to challenge Lionel Messi’s record for the most goals scored in a calendar year‚ citing that the former Chipolopolo striker bettered the Barcelona talisman’s tally of 91 in 2012 in 1972.
The association is on record as saying while turning out for Kabwe Warriors, Chitalu notched 107 calendar goals. In fact, FAZ further claimed it could be 116‚ as nine more have gone unaccounted for from the African Cup of Champions Clubs tie in Lesotho – in 1972.
In that particular year, Chitalu reportedly won all five domestic trophies in the southern African country while setting two African Cup of Champions Clubs (now the CAF Champions League) records against Lesotho’s then champions‚ Majantja – the most in a tie (nine) and the most in a match (seven).
The 1980 Africa Cup of Nations winner with the Super Eagles, Odegbami, wants CAF to posthumously recognise the feats of Chitalu in 1972.
“…CAF can still do something about the injustice done to Chitalu and Zambia‚ by recognising and posthumously decorating him with some kind of legendary status award and acknowledging his goal-scoring records.
“It is not too late for CAF to do the right thing. Chitalu was indeed a true legend of Zambian and African football.”
Majantja’s goalkeeper‚ Denton Lebohang Nketo, has previously made a similar call, acknowledging he conceded the nine goals that Chitalu scored. He has even singled Chitalu out as the best forward he ever faced.
In a match that ended in a 2-2 draw in Maseru, Majantja took the lead, but Chitalu replied while the crowd were still celebrating. He struck from the half-way line‚ almost from the kick-off.
“It’s an injustice‚” Nteko said this month in Lesotho.
“He scored the goals past me. It’s his record. He should be credited with it.”
Arguments have been raised around the issue as some say as Chitalu’s goals were scored in an inferior league and should not be compared to Messi’s record.
Chitalu has always been deemed as one of Zambia’s greatest ever footballers and was awarded an Achievement Recognition Award by Fifa in 1982 after he decided to retire. In 1968 it is reported that Chitalu scored 81 goals for Kitwe United, which was a warm-up for his outstanding 107 goal tally four years later.
Chitalu, who was now managing what has been regarded as Zambia’s greatest team, died in the plane crash in Gabon in 1993 which killed 18 players and six officials.
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