mbulelo smpofu
Sports Reporter
AT some point, Kelvin “Kelly” Lunga was one of the brightest Warriors prospects. He has never been shy to declare his commitment to wear the Warriors jersey.
Lunga, who was born in Germany, chose to represent the Warriors in 2018 but never featured for the national team.
The 30-year-old was named in the provisional squads for a Cosafa Cup tournament and Afcon Qualifiers but did not make the final selections. He is the son of former Dynamos and Warriors player Maxwell Makanza Lunga.
The call-ups saw the striker set foot on Zimbabwean soil for the first time when he came to join the national squad for those assignments. At that time, Lunga was reportedly impressed by the quality of the national team players.
Lunga’s stint with German club 1.FC Bocholt came to an end last week after the club terminated his contract.
Lunga joined the side from league rivals SC Rot-Weiß Oberhausen in the summer of 2023. During his time with 1.FC Bocholt, he scored one goal and provided seven assists in 32 games.
A statement by the fourth-tier league club reads: “The offensive player Kelvin Lunga and 1. FC Bocholt have agreed on an early termination of his contract. The 30-year-old will therefore no longer play for coach Sunay Acar’s team with immediate effect.”
Christopher Schorch, the managing director of Sport and Organisation at FC Bocholt, also spoke on the exit.
“We also discussed the sporting situation with Kelly openly and transparently. He is a great guy who has always given everything for the club and can certainly play at a high level for a few more years. That’s why I wish him all the best for his future, both in sport and in his private life.”
Born on 11 May 1994 in Bonn, Germany, and being born in a family where his father was a professional footballer made him start playing football at a very young age. In fact, he started playing at the age of three.
A skilful right winger with an eye for goal, Lunga Jnr, who can also play wide in midfield or as a striker, started his career at TSV Germania Windeck in 2013.
A year later he would soon retrace his father’s footsteps by joining the youth football system of Bonner SC where his father is considered a legend. Bonner SC has been home to several Zimbabwean players because of Lunga Snr’s early impact which paved the way for the likes of Farai Mbidzo, George Mbwando and Henry McKop, who all featured for the Germany club during their professional careers.
From Bonner SC, Lunga Jnr moved to the Under-23 side of former Bundesliga outfit FC Cologne in July 2015, but a cruciate ligament injury hampered his progress before returning to Bonner SC a year later.
His second stint at Bonner SC, however, lasted only a year as he soon left to join fellow Regionalliga West side SV Rödinghausen, where he has been playing the best football of his promising career.
Lunga, who speaks German, English and “a bit of” SiNdebele and ChiShona has been enjoying a steady season making 18 appearances and scoring three goals in the Regionalliga West, where his side sits third on the log standings.
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