15 Facts About Bernard Chanda

Bernard Chanda was one of Zambia's greatest strikers and was the league top scorer three times.

Bernard Chanda was born in Luanshya in 1952 and first turned out for amateur side Buseko United in the mid-sixties.

Bernard Chanda went to Roan Antelope Secondary School and later joined Roan United where he burst onto the scene as Roan's top scorer in 1969 and was selected to the Zambia Schools national team.

Bernard Chanda was still a schoolboy when he was called to the national team when Zambia faced off against visiting French side RC de Strasbourg in June 1970 and was again his club's top marksman that season, finishing as one of the country's leading goal-scorers in 4th place with 43 goals behind eventual winner Sandy Kaposa of Kabwe Warriors, his clubmate Boniface Simutowe and Kitwe United's Godfrey 'Ucar' Chitalu.

Nigeria took a 20th-minute lead through Iziebige but Bernard Chanda equalised in the 31st minute and was brought down for a penalty in the second half which Brighton Sinyangwe converted.

In June 1975, the national team travelled to Mozambique for that country's independence sports festival and Bernard Chanda was kicked out of the team by the Team Manager Eliya Mwanza for alleged unruly behaviour when he told the coach Henry Kalimukwa that his family was suffering while he was playing soccer away from home and that he was prepared to go back to work rather than play football for the national team.

In November 1976, Bernard Chanda announced that he had decided not to play in his team's remaining three matches because he was tired and needed a rest.

Bernard Chanda stated that there was too much bickering and criticism towards him.

In Sept 1977, Bernard Chanda who was in the news again for disciplinary reasons and was stripped of the captain's armband and suspended for one year with shorter sentences for Brighton Sinyangwe, Sapi and two other players.

Bernard Chanda added that he was fed up with the whole business and that an inquiry into the administration at Rhokana needed to be done which he felt 'left much to be desired.

In December 1977, Bernard Chanda dispelled rumours that he had signed a contract with a Saudi Arabian club and reports that he had been approached by former national team coach Ante Buselic to play in Yugoslavia.

Bernard Chanda took up coaching and in 1985, he crossed over to Botswana to coach Gaborone United.

Bernard Chanda came back to Zambia in 1986 and became coach for Kafue Textiles FC, leading them to promotion to the Premier League in 1987 and for this feat, was nominated for the Coach of the Year award which went to Bizwell Phiri of Premier League champions Kabwe Warriors.

Bernard Chanda died on 16 May 1993 in Luanshya Mine Hospital after poor health, which saw his legs swelling and causing him to be hospitalised for three weeks prior to his death.

Bernard Chanda was laid to rest at Ndola's Kansenshi Cemetery and was survived by a wife Milika and three children.