Zambia to Find Its Football Playing Philosophy After 60 Years
Football association of Zambia (FAZ) through the office of technical director has organized a 3 days football indaba held in Lusaka, Zambia has embarked on a mission to officially define its football playing philosophy, 60 years after gaining independence. Football experts from various domains, including coaches, administrators, scouts, and journalists, gathered to address a long-standing question, what is Zambia’s true football identity?
Around the world, certain countries are synonymous with distinct footballing styles Brazil’s Samba flair, Spain’s methodical tiki-taka, and Italy’s robust Catenaccio. In contrast, Zambia’s style has been an amalgamation of influences from the British direct play, the Dutch total football, and Eastern European approaches. As the nation celebrates six decades of independence, there has been a growing sense that Zambian football has drifted away from its roots, leaving many experts and fans questioning how to reconnect the nation with its authentic football identity.
The indaba in Lusaka has brought together a wide range of voices, with representation across different aspects of football: coaches, players, administrators, journalists, and even fans. The aim is to collectively identify a playing philosophy that reflects Zambia’s unique footballing history and culture. Once agreed upon, the goal is to embed this philosophy at every level of the game, from grassroots football to the senior national teams. Special attention will be placed on developing this philosophy in Zambia’s junior teams, ensuring that the new generation of footballers grows up with a clear understanding of the nation’s playing style.
Sources close to the discussions have revealed that Zambia’s football identity will be encapsulated in a new philosophy named “Chusha.” This philosophy is a blend of short and long passing, physicality, and quick transitional play designed to thrive on counterattacks. Unlike other footballing styles that rely solely on possession or defensive organization, Chusha emphasizes balance. It seeks to combine aggression with technical ability, ensuring that Zambian teams can quickly regain possession, press high, and stretch the field with incisive long passes when necessary.
The Zambian men’s national team, the Chipolopolo, has demonstrated aspects of the Chusha style in recent performances. The team often plays fast-paced counterattacking football, utilizing the physical strength of its midfield and forward players to create and capitalize on opportunities. Similarly, the Zambian women’s team, led by the prolific Barbra Banda, has embodied these principles by balancing physicality with rapid transitions, making them formidable in both possession and breakaway situations.
The goal is to formalize this playing style across all Zambian teams. Chusha will not only give Zambia an adaptable but aggressive edge but also serve as a unifying identity that differentiates the nation from others in African and world football.
The long-term view of this initiative is to instill the Chusha philosophy at the grassroots level, allowing young Zambian players to grow into a clear national style. The Football Association of Zambia (FAZ) is already focusing on nurturing junior teams, from Under-15 to Under-20 for both boys and girls, and plans to extend this to even younger levels, starting with Under-8 teams.
The hope is that with this strong foundation, Zambia will emerge as a more competitive force in world football while maintaining an identity that reflects the country’s unique strengths. As the football fraternity unites under the banner of Chusha, Zambia looks forward to creating a sustainable football culture that will endure for generations.
