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Former Chipolopolo Star Striker Dennis Lota DIES aged 40
Moroka Swallows assistant coach and former Orlando Pirates striker Dennis Lota has died.
Lota was admitted to a Johannesburg hospital over the weekend after what initially looked like a minor illness but passed on early hours of Tuesday evening.
He was forty years old.
A Zambian International, Dennis ‘Tshisa Mpama’ Lota played over a hundred games for Orlando Pirates between 1998 and 2002 and also had spells at a number of other South African clubs including Moroka Swallows, Mpumalanga Black Aces, Witbank Aces, FC AK, Amazulu and Dangerous Darkies.
Dennis Lota was last on the Moroka Swallows bench a few days ago in their mid week match against Kaizer Chiefs which Swallows lost to Chiefs by two goals to nil both goals coming from Zimbabweans Kingston Nkatha and Knowledge Musona.
Lota was born 8 November 1973 in Kitwe, Copperbelt Province of Zambia. He started his professional career with Zanaco FC of Zambia in 1989 before leaving for Nchanga Rangers at the beginning of the 1991 season. At Nchanga Rangers he established a midfield partnership with Abeauty Kunda.
He later left Nchanga to join Kabwe Warriors after a failed attempt to rejoin Zanaco. At Warriors, he never settled and left after one season to join Konkola Blades. It was at Konkala where the late brother to Kalusha Bwalya, Benjamin transformed Lota from a midfielder to a lethal striker who went on to win the golden boot in 1995 and later became a strong target for international clubs. Lota then joined Orlando Pirates where his prowess in front of the goal and particularly his celebration (rubbing his palms against each other), earned him the nickname “Chesa Mpama” amongst the Pirates supporters. He was part of the Zambian African Nations Cup teams in 1996, 1998, 2000 and 2002
At the 2002 African Cup of Nations, Dennis played alongside his brother Charles Lota in the deadly Zambian attack formation.
In 2011, Moroka Swallows elevated him from their reserve side him to the first team as one of the assistant coaches.
Lota hit headlines just before Christmas when he said South African PSL clubs would rather do business in Zimbabwe rather than Zambia because the risk valuation factors are lower.
“The standard there (In the SA PSL) has improved tremendously. It is not like before where anyone could just come and play,” Lota said. “The level in terms of technique and intelligence has gone up. The biggest thing for me is on the financial aspect.
“You see players from Zimbabwe they come to South Africa not solely focused on the money but how they are going to sell themselves when given the platform.”
Lota, said it was high time Zambian clubs revised their business strategies when dealing with PSL clubs.
“Teams are scared; ‘we do not even know this chap, we cannot pay so much’. People should know signing a player is a risky undertaking,” Lota said.
Posted by Editor
on February 5, 2014. Filed under LATEST NEWS.
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MwineZed
February 5, 2014 at 5:03 am
May his Soul Rest in Peace.
KK
February 5, 2014 at 5:06 am
THIS IS A VERY SAD LOSS FOR ZAMBIA. HE WAS ONLY 40 YEARS AND HAD A GOOD FUTURE! CONDOLENCES TO THE FAMILY.
MAY GOD ALMIGHTY THROUGH THE POWER OF THE HOLY SPIRIT CONFORT YOU IN THIS VERY TRING MOMENT! MHSRIEP
Village Chicken
February 5, 2014 at 5:30 am
Really sad. I remember Denis Lota for his exploits when the Chipolopolo whacked the Pharaohs 3 – 1 in a Nations Cup in RSA. RIP.
brian chewe
February 5, 2014 at 5:39 am
I was with him a few days ago and he did not look sick or anything. Am a good friends with hitler his young brother.am really shocked.MHSRIP
munkondia harvey
February 5, 2014 at 6:08 am
to bad ba lota, and l will miss u. May your soul rest in peace
Njoks
February 5, 2014 at 6:37 am
Too bad this comrade. Had dinner together at Bearchwood hotel last October where they were camped. As Zedians he welcomed us and had a good chat. I am at a loss
Tobias mumba
February 5, 2014 at 6:52 am
May you rest in peace
charlie2000
February 5, 2014 at 6:58 am
Condolences to the Lota’s family..
Denkete
February 5, 2014 at 7:16 am
Rest in peace Ba Lota. That why we need to live life to the fullest. WORK HARD, PLAY HARD. Not ati let me work hard i ll play at 50. Are u going to reach 50?
joram
February 5, 2014 at 7:36 am
May his soul rest in peace.amen
barnabas chikopela
February 5, 2014 at 7:38 am
Rest in Eternal Peace
cycle mata
February 5, 2014 at 7:50 am
Rest in peace ba mudala…konkola blades is mourning you bro.
Accumen
February 5, 2014 at 7:59 am
we Africans tend to die so earl why?????????????????
Sotambe
February 5, 2014 at 8:55 am
iwe chikala tulelosha ulelanda ifyabupuba apa!
Umupandapwiti
February 5, 2014 at 8:56 am
Most of us Africans tend to be poor why??????????????
Tukiya
February 5, 2014 at 7:59 am
Sad
Bravo
February 5, 2014 at 8:09 am
RIP pa Nchanga we called him “Breaker” Mufulira Wanderers Supportes respected him very much. This was after he scored two dramatic goal to equalise. Then Nchanga was down by 2 goals to nil going to break time. In the second half he tore the Mufulira defence apart to score a cracker. Later in the game towards the end he scored avery briliant header to eqhalise and the game ended in a two all draw. We shall surely miss pa Nchanga napa ZED as well. RIP Lota Dennis “Breaker”
dzone
February 5, 2014 at 8:19 am
MHSRIP
WISE ONES
February 5, 2014 at 8:23 am
SAD NEWS MHSRIP
sorry
February 5, 2014 at 8:32 am
MHSRIP wishing the family God’s guidance during this trying moment.
MK the ORIGINAL
February 5, 2014 at 8:33 am
Its so such an unfortunate moment in the history of futbal pa Zed. We shall greatly miss you our dear brother and player. I wish all the Lota family well and much deepest condolences to them and all the soccer lovers in Zambia.
maxwell ck
February 5, 2014 at 8:33 am
Rest in peace
chissah
February 5, 2014 at 8:34 am
Life is in the hands of god.Future is in the hands of god.Talent is in the hands of god. If you do good things , people will always remember your good things,a football hero has left a legasy . let’s emulate people like this.Go well my brother. May God cofort the left family and make them to overcome the life chalenges they are going to encounter after the big man’s life.MYSRIP.LALA NOKUTHULA.
id!ot!
February 5, 2014 at 9:00 am
Too too sad what a goal getter he was! Rest in enternal peace Chesa Mpama.
bbz
February 5, 2014 at 9:13 am
BA- DENNIS LOTA REST IN PEACE UNTIL WE MEET ON THE OTHER SIDE!!!!!!
cash money
February 5, 2014 at 9:32 am
I loved the way he stood firm for our national team on the famous program soccer Africa when people like mamado of ivory coast said bad about our team , he was calm with so much belief that Zambia was going to lift the 2012 Africa cup of nations edition. I also had a chance to play with him in January this year in a friendly game we played at the national assembly ground in the show grounds where he played with his ex-chipolopolo stars like davies phiri,george lwandamina,honor janza,tenant chilumba etc…he still had a lot to offer in his coaching career. may his soul rest in peace.
Kawambwa Tea
February 5, 2014 at 11:23 am
Yes he was a humble person and a professional how he carried himself on those TV sports programmes. He truly carried Zambia’s flag with pride. MHSRIP
ruggar
February 5, 2014 at 9:37 am
m.h.r.i.p
tripoli
February 5, 2014 at 9:54 am
Go well chasa mpama u are the son of the soil chabipa bamudala MHSRIP
jawapi
February 5, 2014 at 10:21 am
rest in peace,u ve contributed in putting Zambia on top in football circles.We are mourning with the family.M.H.S.R.I.E.P.Amen.
mulipa
February 5, 2014 at 10:25 am
Chayipa
ChiKA
February 5, 2014 at 10:25 am
Rest In Peace Lota, I remember watching you play sometime back in 1998, when I was boy.
Njonginjo
February 5, 2014 at 10:28 am
@Mpandapwiti. iwe Yakunyokola Njala, ka ? How can u ask such a foolish question
tjay
February 5, 2014 at 10:31 am
SAD MOMENT . GO WELL MY BROTHER . YOU HAD ZAMBIA AT HEART.
kk
February 5, 2014 at 11:59 am
is lota zambian or southafrican ?i remember hem geting a southafrican citizen lo,sad
boshiu
February 5, 2014 at 12:06 pm
Lota may your soul rest in peace dear brother the Almighty Lord be with yr soul till we meet again in the new world.
kennedy chisanga
February 5, 2014 at 12:08 pm
den was a displined player.may his soul rest in peace
Sharp Razor
February 5, 2014 at 1:43 pm
He was an inspirational to many of Konkola Blades Players. Its unfortunately that Blades lost another ex player towards the end of last year Simms Samuel Chanda. May the Souls of the Departed Rest in Peace.
Ba GK - Chiliz
February 5, 2014 at 2:48 pm
A sad time for Zambia. Dennis, RIP and condolences to the Lota family.He was indeed destined for greaterv heights but it was not to be so. Only God can answer our queries in this matter.
Billythehandsome
February 5, 2014 at 2:53 pm
Speechless to beyond.. May His Soul Rest In Peace
fwala jombo
February 5, 2014 at 3:45 pm
MHSRIP
HARRIS KHONDIWA
February 5, 2014 at 4:19 pm
He was a brilliant player ,MHSRIP
fb friend
February 5, 2014 at 6:41 pm
RIP Dennis ,no chats on FB
kabova
February 5, 2014 at 9:18 pm
Rest in eternal peace dennis. you dwarfed that ivory coast commentator with your cool and collected gesture during the time when we won the cup
jessie
February 7, 2014 at 4:15 pm
may your sour rest in peace