In 1986 Kalusha Bwalya became one of the first Africans to ply their trade in Europe. The 23-year-old Zambian began a footballing trek that would take him from Mufulira Wanderers to Correcaminos in Mexico via Belgium, the Netherlands and the United Arab Emirates. King Kalu's adventures have made inspired reading for millions of would-be African superstars for more than two decades.

There can be few players to have played under so many great coaches as Kalusha Bwalya. The list of men the African great has performed for reads like a who's who of the best in the business. Recently appointed Zambia coach, Great Kalu is mixing their best ingredients with a bit of his own spice to prepare a winning dish to serve up at football's greatest feast.

He is Zambia's coach, association vice-president and still at 41 their inspiration on the field. Fresh from scoring the last-gasp winner to send his nation to the top of the 2006 FIFA World Cup™ qualifying group, Kalusha Bwalya, the only player from southern Africa to pick up the continent's player of the year award, talks to FIFA.com about joy, tragedy and an everlasting fairytale.

Not a day goes by without us thinking of our lost friends. It is hard to believe that 10 years have passed since that tragic night when the unthinkable happened to Zambia in those dark Gabonese skies over the Atlantic Ocean.

Zambia's technical director Kalusha Bwalya has refused to rule out playing again for the national team again despite missing a crucial penalty in the Cosafa Cup final.
Bwalya's miss in the penalty shoot out against Angola in Lusaka on Saturday cost the Chipolopolo the match.