Kalusha's personal tribute to Zoom

Samuel 'Zoom' N'dhlovu - held in deep affection

Zambian superstar Kalusha Bwalya remembers his great mentor in this special tribute to the late 'Zoom' N'dhlovu.

On behalf of my family, I would like to offer our deepest sympathies on the death of Mr. N'dhlovu.

What can I say? When you talk about Sir 'Zoom' N'dhlovu you are talking about a true legend of Zambia and African soccer.

We first came into contact a long way back at my old club, Mufulira Wanderers, where he was once a great player himself.

I like to think we had a father and son relationship

Kalusha Bwalya

He was one of the best coaches, and set me on my way to the little fame I achieved in Zambian and world football.

He was very hard-working and very much respected by all the players.

And his coaching methods were way ahead of their time.

It was him who made Zambian football headline news on the world stage for the first time - at the Olympic Games in Seoul in 1988.

There we won one of the most memorable games I ever played for Zambia - we got past Italy.

But Zoom remained calm and said he now wanted us to win a medal for Zambia.

He was the architect of so much in Zambian football.

When the deal came through in 1983 for me to go to Belgium, Zoom called me aside during one training session to give some advice.

He told me what to expect in European football and how I should try to improve myself.

It seems so long ago now, but I will always be thankful to him.

I played so many years under him, but he never raised his voice against me.

Whenever I returned home to Zambia, to play for the national team or to have a holiday, we would meet up at Wanderers.

He remained the same man - a caring, thinking, footballing man.

I like to think we had a father and son relationship.

It was a pleasure and a privilage to have worked with Zoom.

May his soul rest in peace.

Kalusha.