AARON MUBANGA writes
@SunZambian
FORMER Zambia national team striker Given Singuluma says the 2010 Club World Cup was the best tournament of his life.
TP Mazembe went to the 2010 Club World Cup as Confederation of Africa (CAF) representatives after winning their 4th CAF Champions League title with Singuluma scoring 5 goals in the tournament and only Dioko Kaluyituka (7) and Michael Eneramo (8) scored more.
At the Club World Cup in the United Arab Emirates, TP Mazembe joined the tournament at the quarter-final stage beating Mexican side Pachuca 1-0 thanks to a Bedi Mbenza lone goal.
The DR Congo giants who are Sunguluma’s favorite club during his career went on to beat Brazilian side National in the semis before losing 3-0 to Samuel Eto’o led Inter Milan.
“I have played for National Assembly, Bay United, Buildcon, Zanaco and TP Mazembe. My favorite club of course is Mazembe because that’s where my football career went up thanks to the President, Moise Katumbi and the Mazembe Family at large,” Singuluma told the ZamFoot Crew.
“I have been at the Club World twice 2010 and 2015, I missed 2009 because of indiscipline. I have won 3 CAF Champions League titles, 2 CAF Confederation Cup titles,3 Super Cups. I have been to two 2 AFCON tournaments in 2010 and 2015, 1 CHAN tournament in 2009 and I have won the Congolese League on eight occasions. Mazembe has made a big difference in my career.”
“2010 that was my best moment in football playing at the Club World Cup and winning games to play the final with inter Milan rubbing shoulders with Zanetti (Javier) , Cambiaso,Lucio and Samuel Eto’o that’s the experience u get when you win the champions league in Africa I will forever remember that moment,” Singuluma added.
Singuluma named Fwayo Tembo and Tresor Mputu amongst the best players he has played alongside and went on to name Algerian club Jeunesse Sportive de Kabylie (JS Kabylie) as the toughest opponent in his career.
“One of the talented players I think Tresor Mputu, Fwayo is also talented and Chisamba has natural skill these are the players who I think make fans happy with their skills,” he said.
“The toughest opponent was JS Kabylie it was semifinals in Algeria in 2010 that was the toughest game I Came across,” he added.
Singuluma believes the Zambian league has improved a lot in the recent past.
“The Zambian League has improved a lot compared to the time I started playing in Premier in 2003, Today it’s being watched in most in African countries thanks to the people who are running it so that Africa is watching,” he said.
“My best game for Zambia national team is the one I scored a hat-trick in Ivory Coast and the moment I scored in Mozambique where Zambia last qualified to the AFCON those memories have remained with me,” he added.
The former TP Mazembe star has advised the upcoming football stars to put good first and be very disciplined.
“My advice is simple they should put God first, because God is the owner of everything, discipline is very important in football. Hardwork, determination and to set a goal for yourself on what you want in football and football will give it back to you,” he said.
Singuluma has had a very successful club career with lasting about 15 years and is one if the few players who can boast of having won seven continental trophies which include three CAF Champions League titles. – ZAMFOOT.