TP Mazembe clarifies reports after announcing death of former Zambia captain Rainford Kalaba
Former Zambia national team captain Rainford Kalaba is in a coma after being involved in a road accident on Saturday 13, April.
According to images posted online, Kalaba’s car crashed head-on with a truck on Kafue road in Zambia and rolled off the road with his partner, who was driving in the Mercedes model with him.
The former player was rushed to University Teaching Hospital in critical condition and was placed in an artificial coma.
His former club TP Mazembe initially confirmed his demise through a social media post but later on clarified that Kalaba is in critical condition.
“We just heard from the medical team that took on Maestro Rainford KALABA. Declared dead by the emergency services who received the former TPM player victim of a serious traffic accident, the doctors who received him have just placed him in an artificial coma but his situation is critical,” clarified TP Mazembe.
Their initial post sent shock waves across the continent who struggled to come to terms with the erronious death announcement.
“Go in peace our “Maestro.” What a loss ! Rainford KALABA did not survive a road accident this Saturday 13 April in Zambia between Kafwe and Lusaka. Master…Master…Master,” the Congolose giants posted on Facebook.
The former midfielder made 103 appearances for Zambia while scoring 15 goals and was part of the Chipolopolo squad that won the 2012 Africa Cup of Nations after beating Ivory Coast on post-match penalties.
He was club legend at TP Mazembe where he played from 2011 to 2023, making 280 appearances while scoring 78 goals.
Kalaba also turned out for Zambia’s Zesco United and had spells in Portugal with Braga, Gil Vicente and Leiria.
