Will Shumah outshine others who left the ZPL for the PSL?
Moses Shumah now carries the hopes of proving that players who excel in the Zambian Super League can also thrive in South Africa’s Premier Soccer League (PSL).
For years, a move from the FAZ Super League to the PSL has been regarded as a major career step. However, while several forwards have earned transfers after impressive campaigns in Zambia, many have struggled to reproduce the same form across the border.
The latest player to take on that challenge is Kenyan striker Moses Shumah, who recently completed a move to AmaZulu after a sensational debut season with Power Dynamos.
Shumah leaves Kitwe as the 2024/25 FAZ Super League Golden Boot winner after scoring 21 goals to help Power Dynamos successfully defend their league title. His remarkable performances earned him a deserved move to South Africa, but history suggests the transition will not be straightforward.
Lazarus Kambole
In 2019, Lazarus Kambole completed a high-profile move from Zesco United to South African giants Kaizer Chiefs after establishing himself as one of Zambia’s most feared strikers.
Despite arriving with huge expectations, Kambole struggled to adapt to life in the PSL and failed to cement a regular place in the Chiefs starting lineup before eventually departing the club.
Christian Saile
Kaizer Chiefs once again looked to Zambia when they signed Christian Saile from Nchanga Rangers.
Saile joined the Soweto giants after impressing in the Zambian league, but like Kambole, he found it difficult to consistently produce the performances that had earned him the move.
Andy Boyeli
In June 2024, Congolese forward Andy Boyeli also made the switch from Power Dynamos to Sekhukhune United after an outstanding spell in Zambia.
Although Boyeli has shown glimpses of his quality, adapting to the PSL has proven challenging. Since joining Sekhukhune, he has managed six league goals as he continues to establish himself in South African football.
Can Shumah break the trend?
Shumah now has the opportunity to rewrite the narrative.
Armed with confidence from a Golden Boot-winning campaign and a reputation as one of the most clinical finishers in the Zambian Super League, the Kenyan international will be hoping to succeed where several of his predecessors found life difficult.
If he can quickly adapt to the demands of the PSL and maintain the goalscoring form that made him a star at Power Dynamos, Shumah could become the player who finally breaks the trend and proves that prolific strikers from the Zambian league can flourish in South Africa.
