Personal information | |||
---|---|---|---|
Full name | Collins Mbesuma | ||
Date of birth | 3 February 1984 | ||
Place of birth | Luanshya, Zambia | ||
Height | 1.83 m (6 ft 0 in) | ||
Playing position | Striker | ||
Club information | |||
Current team
|
Mpumalanga Black Aces | ||
Number | 31 | ||
Youth career | |||
2001–2002 | Wild Antelopes | ||
Senior career* | |||
Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
2003–2004 | Roan United | 25 | (11) |
2004–2005 | Kaizer Chiefs | 33 | (27) |
2005–2007 | Portsmouth | 4 | (0) |
2006–2007 | → CS Maritimo (loan) | 23 | (7) |
2007–2008 | Bursaspor | 6 | (0) |
2008–2009 | Mamelodi Sundowns | 16 | (4) |
2009–2010 | Moroka Swallows | 14 | (2) |
2010–2012 | Golden Arrows | 43 | (18) |
2012–2014 | Orlando Pirates | 13 | (4) |
2014– | Mpumalanga Black Aces | 45 | (17) |
National team‡ | |||
2003– | Zambia | 64 | (22) |
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 19 June 2012. ‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 1 April 2017 |
Collins Mbesuma (born 3 February 1984 in Luanshya) is a Zambian footballer who currently plays for South African club Mpumalanga Black Aces. He is nicknamed The Hurricane or Ntofontofo.
Mbesuma was born in Luanshya. His father, Francis Kajiya, was also a football player who played as a midfielder for Zambian clubs; Green Buffaloes FC and Ndola United FC as well as the country's national team from the late 1970s to the early 1980s.
The surname "Mbesuma" is adopted from his step father who raised him as he was not brought up by his biological father Kajiya.
Mbesuma made his debut for Zambia in 2003 and had won four caps by the end of that year, while at the same time being a key member of Zambia's under-23 side that almost qualified for the Athens Olympics.
His performances for the Olympic team caught the attention of Kaizer Chiefs who bought him in January from Roan United in Zambia, where he averaged a goal every other game.
He scored on his debut in South Africa's Premier Soccer League in 2004 against the Black Leopards but injured himself in the process and spent several weeks on the sidelines.
Mbesuma was named PSL Player of the Season in 2005 after scoring a sensational 35 goals in one season with Kaizer Chiefs. After such an achievement a move to a more prestigious league looked assured, and indeed it was enough to catch the eye of Sam Allardyce, manager of Bolton Wanderers (Le Mans UC72 looked to sign him but administrative problems didn't allow Mbesuma to join France). However, Mbesuma was reluctant to take a trial at the club, feeling his quality was already proven, and so this allowed then-Portsmouth manager Alain Perrin to snap him up on a three-year contract in the summer of 2005. Work permit problems due to the low ranking of his country meant he was not given clearance to join the club until late into pre-season.