PSL record holder: Where’s ex-Kaizer Chiefs star Collins Mbesuma?
Some called him “The Hurricane” while many others called him “Ntofontofo. But where is Collins Mbesuma now? COLLINS MBESUMA’S DECORATED PSL AND INTERNATIONAL CAREER It’s safe to say the apple did not fall too far from the tree in the case of the Zambian international as his father, Francis Kajiya, was also a football player […]
Some called him “The Hurricane” while many others called him “Ntofontofo. But where is Collins Mbesuma now?
COLLINS MBESUMA’S DECORATED PSL AND INTERNATIONAL CAREER
It’s safe to say the apple did not fall too far from the tree in the case of the Zambian international as his father, Francis Kajiya, was also a football player who played professionally as a midfielder.
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Young Mbesuma, who was only 20 years old, took the South African football scene by storm in 2004 when he joined Soweto giants Kaizer Chiefs, netting 35 goals in his first season with Amakhosi – 25 of those were in the Premier Soccer League (PSL).
Those 25 goals remain the highest tally to be managed by a player in a single season. Mbesuma is also only one of five players in the PSL-era to score 100 league goals after scoring a combined 103 goals for the clubs he played for in the South African domestic league.
In addition, until the 2022/2023 season, the retired soccer star was the only PSL player to have won the PSL top goalscorer award, called the Lesley Manyathela Golden Boot, on two occasions.
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The award was named after the former Orlando Pirates striker who died in a car accident in August 2003 just after he had scored 18 goals to top the scorers’ chart that season.
Mbesuma scored frequently at a host of South African clubs, including Mamelodi Sundowns, Moroka Swallows, Golden Arrows, Orlando Pirates, Mpumalanga Black Aces, Highlands Park, Highlands Park and University of Pretoria.
Internationally, he played for Portsmouth Football Club in England, in Portugal for Club Sport Marítimo and in Turkey for Bursaspor.
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WHERE IS NTOFONTOFO NOW?
Currently, Mbesuma is involved in charity work while running his academy, the Collins Mbesuma Academy which he launched in 2020.
The academy is in South Africa and his native home country, Zambia. He hopes to produce top players who will play in the PSL and for Chipolopolo (the Zambian national team).
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Last year, Mbesuma was appointed assistant coach at Motsepe Foundation Championship side, Pretoria Allies, which he also played for. According to Goal.com, he took on the striker coach role.