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Photo to follow (Dennis Lota and Steve Lekoelea of Orlando Pirates celebrate a goal.) |
Denis Lota
Forward. Zambian International who had a trial with Reading in December 1996, playing in a few reserve games. His first game was a Capital League game against Fulham. In his second game - a private friendly against Bristol City (result 1-3) - he set up a goal for Lee Nogan and showed one piece of amazing skill to beat 4 men. In his final "trial" game Denis scored a couple of goals in a 3-3 draw at Rushden & Diamonds Reserves. (Reading's line-up included Martyn Booty, Jeff Hopkins, Michael Gilkes, Paul Holsgrove, Darren Caskey, Lee Nogan and Jimmy Quinn.) Managers Mick Gooding and Jimmy Quinn felt that the £400,000 which his South African club, Witbank Aces, wanted was too high. Quinn said "He certainly looked sharp around the box but his all-round game wasn't really strong enough for our league. We didn't feel he did enough to justify his valuation."
In Sep 97 he had a trial with Nantes, before joining Swiss side Sion. He currently plays for Orlando Pirates in South Africa.
From Zambia's newspaper "The Post" 17/1/1997:
Lota may join Reading FC
By Reuben Tonga
Dennis Lota may this year be joining England's first division Reading Football Club, disclosed Veli Mahlangu, chairman of South Africa's Witbank Aces, the team that bought the Zambian striker for 45,000 Rands from Konkola Blades last year. "I was informed by officials from England that they want Dennis back as soon as possible," Mahlangu said in a telephone interview from Johannesburg yesterday. "They said it would be better to have him before February." Lota last year failed to impress Reading FC officials after two months of trials with the club. "I think Dennis has a good chance to settle this year, mostly because of the way he played in the Zambia game against South Africa,"Mahlangu said.
From Zambia's newspaper "The Post" 13/5/1998:
Lota joins Orlando Pirates
By Goodson Machona
Dennis Lota's checkered international career took a new turn last week after he was signed on by South Africa's premier division side, Orlando Pirates. Lota, currently on loan with Zanaco for 90 days, was snapped up from South Africa's first division side Witbank Aces along with Cameroun's Jean-Paul Bang-Penda for a reported fee of between 250,000 and 300,000 South African Rands.
Pirates boss, Irvin Khoza, said at a news conference on Saturday that he was happy with the acquisition of the duo whom he hopes will help propel the side to the 1999 Castle premiership title. "To say I am bouyed by the acquisition is something of an understatement," Khoza said. "With this kind of players doing duty for us next year, our efforts at making a strong challenge will be as good as attained. The duo will help fortify our frontline and thereby ensuring stability in the team."
Zanaco boss, Masautso Nyanthondo, comfirmed the development yesterday but said he is yet to speak to the player. "As a club, we are aware of the development," Nyanthodo said. "But we just want to have a chat with the player to find out what could have transpired because Witbank can't sell Lota without the player's consent."
From Zambia's newspaper "The Post" 24/10/1999:
Orlando Pirates(1) 3
Africa Sports(1) 1
(Agg 4-4; Africa Sports won 3-0 on penalties)
The defining moment in this game arrived in the 70th minute when Zambian international Denis Lota weaved his way past a maze of Ivorian defenders to score one of the best individual goals for a long time at this stadium. It was the deadly striker's third of the game, but most importantly it levelled matters on aggregate, to give Pirates another lifeline after they had seemingly lost touch in this African Cup-Winners Cup second-leg semifinal clash. Just a few minutes later, Pirates could have sealed the game, but Africa Sports goalkeeper Jean Jacques Tizie pulled off a brilliant save from Sibusiso Zuma, who did well to reach Joseph Ngake's cross, to take the game to penalties. But Pirates took their lacklustre approach to the game into the shootout as they missed all their penalties for the Ivorians to advance to the final 3-0. Lota, Gerald Raphalela and Thomas Inguana all missed their penalties, with Fadel Keita scoring the winning spot kick.
On a day when Lota was the star turn for the Buccaneers, the rest of the team seemed jaded and sluggish. It was unfortunate Lota had to miss a penalty, as it spoiled a marvellous individual performance. Before kickoff there was little to suggest that Pirates would overturn the two-goal deficit from the first leg, when they lost 3-1 in the Ivory Coast. The priority for Pirates was to get an early goal and they surged ahead from the outset, coming close twice within a minute. The much-needed early goal came in the fourth minute when Lota scored a pearler. Ngake moved swiftly down the left before cutting in and seemingly moving aimlessly across the field. His pass found Lota, who of late has been Pirates' best player. Receiving the ball near the edge of the area, he drove home a low shot that seemingly squeezed under the body of Tizie, who was moving to his right. Pirates fans celebrated jubilantly as the Ivorians stood in a huddle, angrily pointing fingers at each other.
Just four minutes later, Pirates could have doubled their lead. Kamaal Sait, who started the game in midfield, crossed from the left into a packed penalty area, but Raphalela's first touch deserted him and Tizie recovered. Pirates seemed to run out of ideas as the half progressed. They never pressed home their initiative and the visitors were able to settle down and start dictating matters, especially in midfield, where their physical strength made a big difference. The worst that Pirates could have imagined became reality in the 26th minute when, from a corner, Thabo Mngomeni, in trying to clear, gifted the ball to Yacouba Kamara, whose fierce drive touched Wayne Roberts's outstretched palm, but still went in the back of the net. For Mngomeni, it has not been a good week, as the dreadlocked Pirates player was not at his best when Pirates held Santos to a 3-3 draw, also being responsible for one of the Cape side's goals. Mngomeni was probably playing with an injury, as Pirates, for some reason, never registered players like Innocent Chikoya and Warren Lewis, both of whom could have made a major difference.
But it was Lota who took the game to the visitors, scoring his second after Raphalela's cross from the right was well headed down by an otherwise subdued Zuma, and the Zambian international blasted home a spectacular volley to set up an explosive finish.
Orlando Pirates: Wayne Roberts, Gerald Raphalela, Papi Khomane, (Clinton Larsen 88), Thomas Inguana, Guy-Roger Nzeng, Thabo Mngomeni, (Brandon Silent 46), Joseph Ngake (Andries Sebola 88), Kamaal Sait, Sibusiso Zuma, Steve Lekoelea, Denis Lota.
Africa Sports: Jean-Jaques Tizie, Brahima Kone, Dao Lassini, Mousa Doumba, Eric Liri (Eric Babou 66), Yacouba Kamara, Aboubacar Toure, Abdul Keita, Adama Clofie Kone (Jean Nkeou 90), Fadel Keita, Diomande Lacini.
Scorers:
Orlando Pirates : Lota (4, 61 and 70 mins)
Africa Sports : Kamara (26 min)
Referee : Abdel Radwan
Conditions : Warm
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