Lusaka, Zambia – The Zambian football community is in mourning following the tragic passing of former Chipolopolo forward, Tapson Kaseba, who died on Wednesday afternoon after a short illness. The 39-year-old was pronounced dead at the University Teaching Hospital (UTH), surrounded by his loving family and colleagues from the Zambia National Service (ZNS).
Kaseba, who was initially admitted to Maina Soko Medical Centre, had been discharged before his condition worsened, leading to his readmission at UTH where he sadly passed away. He is survived by his wife and six children. The funeral is being held at his mother’s residence in Garden House, with further details to be announced in due course.
A celebrated striker, Kaseba left an indelible mark on Zambian football throughout a career that saw him represent numerous clubs. He turned out for Lime Hotspurs, Kansanshi Dynamos, Kabwe Warriors, Green Eagles, NAPSA Stars, Buildcon, and Konkola Blades.
It was during his memorable spell at Green Eagles in 2018 that Kaseba truly rose to prominence. He was in sensational form, scoring an impressive 18 league goals for the “Kawale Boys” and finishing as the runner-up for the 2018 Zambian Footballer of the Year award. That year, he was only surpassed by Congolese hitman Idriss Mbombo, who netted 21 goals for Zesco United, with his then-teammate Lazarous Kambole coming in third.
His prolific season with Green Eagles earned him a call-up to the national team under then-coach Aggrey Chiyangi. He would go on to etch his name into Chipolopolo folklore with a crucial goal in the 2019 COSAFA Cup final against Botswana, a strike that secured a 1-0 victory and the title for Zambia.
Tapson Kaseba will be remembered not only for his goalscoring prowess but also for his dedication and contribution to the clubs he played for and the national team. His death is a profound loss to Zambian football.
