16 Facts About Dick Chama

Dick Chama was a Zambian footballer and coach who played as a centre-back.

Dick Chama was Zambia's defensive stalwart from the late '60s to the mid '70s and formed a formidable central defence pairing alongside Dickson Makwaza and was part of Zambia's squad during the country's very first CAN outing in 1974 and made the official CAF team of the tournament.

Dick Chama was born in Bancroft and was one of the founding members of the mine team Bancroft North End, captaining the side at the age of 20.

Dick Chama's performances were so impressive that Welsh club Cardiff City was reportedly interested in signing him together with Godfrey Chitalu.

Dick Chama featured in the Jamhuri Cup in December 1967 in Nairobi against Kenya with Zambia winning both games in the two match series to lift the trophy.

Dick Chama was the only Zambian player named in the official CAF team of the tournament which contained five Zairean players and four Egyptians.

Dick Chama won the Challenge Cup and the Champion of Champions trophy with Buffaloes later that year and was named 1975 Sportsman of the Year.

Dick Chama made close to 80 appearances and scored 6 goals.

Dick Chama served as assistant national team coach to Brian Tiler and when Tiler left at the end of his two-year contract in December 1979, Chama succeeded him as Zambian coach.

Dick Chama won the league and Challenge Cup double on two occasions in 1979 and 1981.

Dick Chama thanked referee Costain Mweemba for sending off Patrick Mwamba in the 55th minute for rough play, as it 'propped up Buffaloes' fighting spirit.

Dick Chama was on the national team technical bench under Zambia Samuel Ndhlovu in 1989 and travelled to CAN '90 in Algeria where Zambia reached the semis.

Dick Chama served as Technical Advisor at Buffaloes and later joined Zanaco FC where he stayed for two seasons.

Dick Chama crossed over and coached TASC FC in Botswana but was relieved of his duties when the team was relegated in 1997 so he went back to Zambia to serve as Buffaloes Technical Advisor and was appointed Nkhwazi FC coach in March 2002 but was sidelined midway through the following season after some poor results.

Dick Chama then crossed the border into Zimbabwe where he was first appointed Highlanders Technical Advisor but later took over as coach, leading the Bulawayo outfit to two top four finishes including runners-up in 2004 and left after two years when his contract expired in August 2005.

Dick Chama was survived by a wife and three children.