Exclusive: Unfulfilled Potential - Ex-Power Dynamos Striker Martin Kayuwa Quits Football

Martin Kayuwa, once a highly rated Zambian striker, has retired from football at age 29, leaving behind a trail of unfulfilled potential due to a series of unrelenting injuries.

Kayuwa’s brief career, that has seen him play for Power Dynamos, Kabwe Warriors and Mutondo Stars has been littered with injuries, these include serious groins, and a dislocated left ankle.

He has failed to fully recover, forcing him to call it quits and focus on pursuing a career in mechanics. 

ONCE LIKEND TO DEMBA BA

Kayuwa, nicknamed Demba, after former Senegalese and Chelsea star Demba Ba, is an academy graduate of Super League side Power Dynamos. In 2016, he was promoted to the main team after an impressive season with the reserves, where he scored 15 goals.

He was poised to be the next big thing on the local scene, with his then academy coaches Ken Muma and Mwenya Chipepo likening his skill in front of goal to that of Ba.

“Martin had qualities of a good striker,” Chipepo who is now coach for Super League side Nkana said, “but he got unlucky with injuries, had he gone on to play for long, he would have been a top player no doubt.”

THE ANNOUNCEMENT

Kayuwa told SportsBoom.com in an exclusive interview that he has been forced to focus on building a career outside football because injuries could not just let him enjoy the game anymore.

“My injury problems started the very year I was promoted to the senior team…from then I have been having multiple serious injuries, I was never fit for a long time and this was frustrating, it was from these frustrations that I have decided quit football,” Kayuwa said.

UNFULFILLED DREAMS

Despite having played in the Zambian topflight, Kayuwa feels he has left the stage with a lot of unfulfilled dreams. Like many players his ultimate goal was to play in Europe and don the Chipolopolo shirt.

With regret on his face, he says the feeling of having never achieved this part of his dream still haunts him today.

“I had a lot of aspirations that I wanted to achieve in football, I wanted to play for the national team and play in Europe particularly in the Premier League. I can say I never achieved what I wanted in football.

“Playing for Power Dynamos was one of the goals I wanted to achieve, but it was not the ultimate goal, I was aspiring to be one of the best strikers in the country, but I never did.  I can say I never achieved anything in my football career,” he said.

THE NEW LIFE

Unlike many footballers who face financial hardship after retiring from the sport, Kayuwa has found a new lease on life. He is now working as an artisan mechanic in one of the factories in Zambia.

During his playing days, Kayuwa balanced football and education, earning a certificate in mechanical fitting from one of Zambia's largest trade schools, the Northern Technical College (NORTEC).

It is with this qualification that he has earned a job in one of the local firms. His focus is to grow this side of life. He has not closed the door to football, he hopes that one day he can work as an ambassador for one of his former clubs.