Five greatest Zambian players in PSL history

The Premier Soccer League (PSL) has seen some spectacular players from Zambia try their luck in South Africa.

Chipolopolo players have mesmerized South African football with their talents for the last 24 years and many of them have been strikers.

Five Zambian strikers have won the PSL's Golden Boot award including the current holder Mwape Musonda, who scooped it after scoring 16 goals for Black Leopards last season.

We take a look at the top five greatest Zambian players in the history of the South African top-flight league.

CHRISTOPHER KATONGO

The retired striker is considered one of Zambia's biggest exports having captained Chipolopolo to the 2012 Afcon title and won the 2012 BBC's African Footballer of the Year award.

Katongo arrived in South Africa in 2004 and he joined Jomo Cosmos where became a key player and helped the team clinch the 2005 (Coca Cola Cup) Telkom Knockout Cup.

Known for his speed and somersaults celebration, Katongo clinched the PSL Golden Boot award in the following campaign after scoring 15 goals.

His exploits earned him a move to Danish giants Brondby IF and upon his return to South Africa in 2014, he played for Lamontville Golden Arrows and Bidvest Wits.

KENNEDY MWEENE

The Mamelodi Sundowns star is one of greatest Zambian goalkeepers of all-time and he is the country's most capped player, having represented his nation 120 times.

Mweene's first South African club was Free State Stars where he established himself as one of the best shot-stoppers in the country and he was named PSL Goalkeeper of the Season in 2009.

The 2012 Afcon winner, who is renowned for his penalty-saving and penalty-taking skills, was snapped up by Gauteng giants Sundowns in 2013.

Mweene, 35, has lifted eight major trophies with Sundowns including the Caf Champions League trophy, CAF Super Cup and four Absa Premiership titles.

"Kennedy is very important to us and that’s why we keep holding on to him," Sundowns head coach Mosimane told the media.

"Yes, of course, we have Denis Onyango who’s No 1 in Africa, he is most of the time starting, but Kennedy comes in very handy."

DENNIS LOTA

The Zambian legend is best remembered for his days with Orlando Pirates having joined the Soweto giants in 1998 as an established Chipolopolo player.

Lota scooped the Golden Boot in his second season in the PSL after hitting the back of the net 18 times and he also netted five goals in cup competitions.

Nicknamed Chesa Mpama (loosely translated as "hot slap" in Zulu), Lota also helped Bucs clinch a league and cup double (PSL title and BP Top 8 Cup) during the 2000/01 campaign.

Chesa Mpama joined Moroka Swallows in 2003 and he lifted the 2004 Absa Cup (Nedbank Cup) with the Dube Birds and he sadly passed away in 2014 after a short illness.

ISAAC CHANSA

The retired attacking midfielder had two successful spells with Orlando Pirates and he is now considered to be a club legend.

Chansa, who boasted long-range shooting skills, was a regular for the Buccaneers as they reached the Caf Champions League semifinals and Absa Cup final in 2006.

The 2012 Afcon winner left Bucs for Swedish side Helsingborg IF in 2007 and returned to the Soweto giants three years later.

Chansa played an important role in helping Pirates win a historic double treble (including two PSL titles) between 2010 and 2012.

COLLINS MBESUMA

The lethal marksman is one of the finest Zambian strikers of his generation and he boasts several records in South African football.

Mbesuma, who is currently with University of Pretoria, holds the record for the league most goals scored in a single campaign having netted 25 goals for Kaizer Chiefs in the 2004/05 campaign.

The man nicknamed Ntofontofo helped Amakhosi defend the league title and Coca Cola Cup and he was named PSL Footballer of the Season and he scooped the Golden Boot award.

Ntofontofo then became the first and only player to win the Golden Boot accolade twice having claimed the trophy for a second time during his spell with Mpumalanga Black Aces in 2016.