27 Facts About Alex Chola

Alexander "Alex" Chola was a Zambian footballer and coach.

Alex Chola made a mark at Mufulira Blackpool and Power Dynamos before becoming Dynamos coach and winning the Coach of the Year award in 1992.

Alex Chola was born in Lubumbashi where his father went to work and he reportedly played for local club Solbena FC before moving to Ndola as a teenager.

Blackpool won promotion to the Zambian top league and in April 1975, Alex Chola ended defending league champions Green Buffaloes long unbeaten run with a clinical finish at Blackpool's home ground John Kachofa Stadium in Mufulira.

Alex Chola was linked with several clubs during his time at Blackpool.

The second-place finish was still an achievement but it was evident Alex Chola had been carrying the team for a long time and fans wondered how much longer he would stay at John Kachofa Stadium.

However, Alex Chola denied that he had deserted Blackpool and said he was merely on leave in Mufulira, despite the fact that a big truck was seen transporting his household goods from Mufulira.

Alex Chola ended the season as second highest goal-scorer in the Zambian league, runner-up to club-mate Peter Kaumba.

Grabowski joined the legion of fans who admired Alex Chola's bull juggling skills, but he noted that his teammates did not understand his crisp and timely passes.

Alex Chola further said that although Chola lacked speed, he was an intelligent player who could read the game.

Alex Chola singled out Chola as a possible candidate for his job and Chola stepped up as player-coach, although the Dynamos lost the title to their rivals Nkana by a single point when they failed to beat their cross-town rivals in their penultimate league game at home.

Alex Chola had a hand in Dynamos' first goal scored by Pearson Mwanza but tragedy struck when he was carried off the pitch with a fractured tibia of the left leg in the 28th minute after a late challenge by Warriors' Whiteson Changwe.

Alex Chola first donned national colours in September 1974 when he featured for Zambia 'B' in a match against Brazilian club Operario in Lusaka.

Alex Chola starred in Zambia's 1976 Olympic Games qualification run, scoring 6 times as Zambia qualified to Montreal 1976.

However, Zambia withdrew for political reasons so Alex Chola had to wait 4 more years to make his Olympics bow.

Alex Chola made two appearances at Moscow 1980 as Zambia were eliminated at the group stage.

Alex Chola sustained shin and knee injuries and was out of action for a month but was fit enough for the CAN in Libya.

Alex Chola featured in both games but was substituted in both games and the coach revealed afterwards that he had been suffering from illness.

Alex Chola made 100 appearances and scored 43 goals, making him one of Zambia's most capped players second only to Godfrey Chitalu in goalscoring.

Alex Chola got involved in coaching as early as 1976, coaching youngsters in the Buseko Community Centre Club as trainer of the U-14 team which featured Kalusha Bwalya.

Alex Chola singled out Chola as a possible candidate for his job.

Alex Chola resigned and Chola took over, although Dynamos surrendered the title to bitter rivals Nkana Red Devils and the Champion of Champions trophy to Wanderers.

Alex Chola was relegated to the role of assistant coach with Scotsman Jim Bone as Technical Advisor.

That same year, Alex Chola attended a coaching course in Germany where he was awarded with an advanced diploma in coaching.

Alex Chola therefore had to make do with a team full of youngsters from the reserve team, players like Winter Mumba, Kenan Simambe, Douglas Mwamba, Changa Chaiwa and Kellies Mwaba.

Alex Chola was rewarded with the Coach of the Year award for the 1992 season.

Alex Chola was survived by a wife Monica and five children.