Castro “wawa” Chongo

Public Administrator/Football Administrator/Human Resource Manager/Football Coach & football Analyst.

[Castro “wawa” Chongo @CastroWawa6176]

"The Jet scene".

The 1998 World Cup qualifier between South Africa and Zambia in 1997 remains a memorable match for Zambians.

Despite Zambia having a formidable side packed with experienced professionals, we unfortunately lost 3–0.

The match is also remembered for the extraordinary story surrounding defender Elijah Litana. At the time, Litana had an important club commitment with Al-Hilal in Saudi Arabia around the same period. Al-Hilal reportedly arranged a private royal jet for him to fly from Riyadh to South Africa, play for Zambia and return to Saudi Arabia immediately afterwards to feature for his club.

The remarkable journey earned him the nickname “The Jet Scene” a unique moment in Zambian football that remains unforgettable.

On the photo standing from left , Davies phiri goalkeeper, Andrew Tembo, Harrison Chongo the late, Elijah Litana and mordon malitoli.

Squatting from left.
Paul chellah, dennis lota and Hillary makasa all late, Dabid Chilufya and Johnson bwalya.

[Castro “wawa” Chongo @CastroWawa6176]

@ss90099993327 @saahb1439 Oh yeah, i see...

[Castro “wawa” Chongo @CastroWawa6176]

Powerful Al-Taawoun club Team.

[Castro “wawa” Chongo @CastroWawa6176]

@Sama1240 Thank you

[Castro “wawa” Chongo @CastroWawa6176]

@ss90099993327 @saahb1439 You're most welcome. Amazingly how did you know about the name "wawa Chongo?" This is the most famous name of my father in zambia. I'm so happy, most people here call me that.

[Castro “wawa” Chongo @CastroWawa6176]

@H_S_Alduhaiyan Thank you

[Castro “wawa” Chongo @CastroWawa6176]

This team have always had unique and stylish kit.

Al-Taawoun's jersey designs have been the best all along.

In dressing room again, The captain encouraging and motivating his team mates. Hamad, indeed was a great leader. Long live legend.

I can see Tenant "shasha" Chilumba, mousa.

Name the other players and the goalkeeper?

[Castro “wawa” Chongo @CastroWawa6176]

Zambia national football team in 1992 at state House with the late second republican president of zambia Dr Frederick Chiluba before the team left for Africa cup of nations in senegal.

This was the first Africa cup of nations appearance for my father although he was an unused substitute and he was the only player that was selected from mufulira wanderers football club.

This was when he joined the national team as a young star and because he spent the entire tournament on the bench, as he returned home soccer fans teased and nicknamed him "Senegal 92". ( name of the host country and the year it was hosted).

Dad was a footballer with full of nicknames. In zambia he was famously known as "wawa" or "madjer" from the Algerian striker Rabar mustapha madjer, "Senegal 92" from that tournament and also "Muhammad" from Saudi arabia.

Who can spot him from this photo?

[Castro “wawa” Chongo @CastroWawa6176]

@abooasamh13 @Taaouni Good to know

[Castro “wawa” Chongo @CastroWawa6176]

Thank you so much and Al-Taawoun club is the best and i shall forever support it.

My father earned the respect in Zambia because of Al-Taawoun club and saudi football and i appreciate that even if you are from another team but you're still able to remember my father. It means alot and how i wish he was here to see this. Thanks alot.

[Castro “wawa” Chongo @CastroWawa6176]

Al-Taawoun club in the dressing room.

I can only recognize the greatest team captain of all times Hamad Al-Hamad, Goalkeeper Ahmed dhari and my father Harrison Chongo at the far end.

Who else can you recognize and what was the captain trying to do?

All zambians this is the team to support, it has rich history and produced the greatest.

@AltaawounFC
@dazzlingstar900

[Castro “wawa” Chongo @CastroWawa6176]

I was honoured and grateful to be certified as a football Coach by the football Association of Zambia (FAZ) in 2019.

The idea is to pick up from where dad left through the passion i have for football. He was a very good coach and everyone in mufulira still mourn him especially when the team loses. It's sorrowful.

Coaching is part of my dream.
Until we develop and upgrade our standards of Zambian and african football.

All youths in zambia must be encouraged to pursue coaching. Its a good one.

One zambia. One nation.

[Castro “wawa” Chongo @CastroWawa6176]

This was the biggest and last tournament my father played in Zambia in 1992 for mufulira wanderers football club before departure for Saudi Arabia at Al-Taawoun club.

It was called BP top 8.

On the left is Harrison Chongo, Goalkeeper Effort Chabala who died in a plane crash with the national team the following year and francis"Diego" Chisenga is now based in lusaka.

Sweet memories.

[Castro “wawa” Chongo @CastroWawa6176]

@ak14281 Thank you

[Castro “wawa” Chongo @CastroWawa6176]

@ss90099993327 @5yale32323 Thanks

[Castro “wawa” Chongo @CastroWawa6176]

The Son Who Never Got to Watch His Father Play at Al-Taawoun 🇿🇲🇸🇦

In 2001, I was only six years old when my father, Harrison “Wawa” Chongo, returned home to Zambia from Saudi Arabia.

At that age, I did not fully understand what it meant to be a professional footballer or what Al-Taawoun meant to him. I only knew that my father had spent many years playing football in Saudi Arabia and that he had special memories of a club in Buraidah.

One day, I told him something that has remained in my heart ever since:

“Dad, I have seen footballers holding their son's hands as they enter the football field. When you go back to Al-Taawoun, take me with you. I also want to watch you play in that beautiful stadium in Saudi Arabia.”

To a six-year-old boy, it was a simple request.

I wanted to see my father play.

I wanted to stand beside him.

I wanted to see the stadium he always spoke about.

I wanted to see the club whose name I had heard so many times Al-Taawoun.

Unfortunately, that moment never came.

My father never returned to Al-Taawoun as a player.

His playing career eventually came to an end and he remained in Zambia, where he later continued serving football through Mufulira Wanderers as a coach.

He passed away on 12 May 2011.

I was still young.

And one of the things I never got to experience was watching my father walk onto the pitch in Saudi Arabia wearing the Al-Taawoun shirt.

Years later, I began to understand what Al-Taawoun meant to him.

It was not simply a club where he earned a living.

It was a place where he spent some of the most important years of his football career. It was where he built friendships, experienced victories and defeats, and became part of the football history of Buraidah.

Today, whenever I see an old photograph of my father wearing the Al-Taawoun colours, I sometimes think about that little boy who simply wanted to hold his father's hand and walk into the stadium with him.

That boy never got his chance.

But decades later, I can still tell his story.

And perhaps that is why Al-Taawoun will always have a special place in my heart.

My father may no longer be here to tell his story himself, but his memories, photographs, jersey and football journey remain.

From Zambia to Buraidah.

From Harrison Chongo to the next generation.

[Castro “wawa” Chongo @CastroWawa6176]

@albdrkng beautiful city

[Castro “wawa” Chongo @CastroWawa6176]

My first ever job that i will treasure forever.

Customer care representative for a mobile network provider MTN Zambia Call center where i worked for 4 years and sponsored myself for tertiary education from the little income.

God is indeed merciful to his own children. I'm grateful to you God for your mercies and love.

This was a difficult moment in life when everyone mocked us because we were left without any inheritance.

Nothing comes easy in life for a man, it takes hardwork, focus,determination and God's will.

To everyone out there who would be doubting in life. The answer is never give up. Work hard and only put your trust in God.

This is a big testimony.

[Castro “wawa” Chongo @CastroWawa6176]

@tos7000 Thank you very much.

[Castro “wawa” Chongo @CastroWawa6176]

When i saw dad with a lot of medals, i was interested to ask about this one from the kingdom of saudi arabia.

My late father, Harrison Chongo, once told me a story that always amazed me.

While in Saudi Arabia, possibly in Qassim, he attended a volleyball tournament just to watch on their free time.

During the medal ceremony, the King of Saudi Arabia/ King of Saudi arabian volleyball federation if my memory saves me right, reportedly looked into the terraces, recognised my father, pointed at him and told the officials not to give him the medal, but to take it to the Zambian footballer from Al-Taawoun Club Chongo.

My father was surprised that he was recognised and honoured outside football. It showed him that his name and reputation in Saudi Arabia had reached far beyond the football pitch.

In Zambia, such recognition of our sports personalities and celebrities outside their own field is rare, which makes this story even more special to me.

I have safely kept that medal for many years. It is more than a medal it is a treasured symbol of the respect and recognition my father earned during his years in Saudi Arabia.

A remarkable honour and a beautiful part of Harrison Chongo’s legacy. 🇿🇲🇸🇦🏅

Who can recall this chapter of the kingdom championship for first division youth league?