Forest Rangers F.C.
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| Full name | Forest Rangers Football Club | |
|---|---|---|
| Nickname(s) | Fole Malembe | |
| Founded | 1975 | |
| Ground | Dola Hill Stadium, Ndola, Northern Zambia | |
| Capacity | 49,800 | |
| Manager | Ian Bakala | |
| League | Zambian Super League | |
| 2022–23 | 8th | |
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Forest Rangers F.C. is a football club from Ndola, Zambia currently playing in the top flight Zambia Super League.
History[edit]
In 1975, Forest Rangers Football Club started as Community Football Team at Dola Hill Forest Station in Ndola[1] and joined the Ndola District Amateur League in 1976. After a period of 3 years, the club was promoted to Division 3 under the Copper belt Amateur League up to the end of the 1988 soccer season. The club played Division 1 football from 1989 to 1991.
During the 1991 soccer season, the club finished as runners up in the independence Cup Competition after losing 5-1 to the then Football kings of Zambia, Nkana Football Club.[2] This was after the club had eliminated Mufulira Wanderers in the semi-final by a lone goal at Nkana Stadium. At the end of the same soccer season, the club won promotion to the Super league Division.
The club stayed in the Super League Division up to the end of the 1994 soccer. During the 1994 season, the club finished among the top eight clubs of the Super League Division.
In 1995, the sponsors (ZAFFICO Limited) under the cost saving measures policy disbanded the team.
In 1998, the team was revamped through social football. In 1999, the team merged with strike Rovers Football club and played Division 1 Football under the club name of Forest Strikes Football Club up to 2000.
In 2001, the club retained the name of Forest Rangers Football Club when ZAFFICO limited became the sole sponsors of the club.
The club's Premier League Football performance since 2002 has been as follows:
- 2002 Played Super League Football
- 2003 Played Division 1 Football
- 2004 Played Super League Football
- 2005 Played Division 1 Football
- 2006 Played Super League Football and finished among the top eight
- 2007 Played Super League Football
- 2008 Played Super Division 1 Football
- 2009 Played Super League Football and finished among the top eight
- 2010 Played Super League football
- 2011 Played Super League Football
- 2012 Played Super League Football
- 2013 Played Super League and got relegated to Division 1 Football
- 2014 Played Division 1.Won the League and promotion to Super League Football
- 2020 FAZ Super league second runner up and qualified for CAF Champions league 2020/2021 season. This was the first time the Club had finished as second runners up since 1975 and qualified for CAF Champions league for 2020/2021 season. The Club lost the title to Nkana Football Club on goal difference. The most successive Club Management in the History of the Club included:
Benhail Mukuka ( President) Chota Ngalande ( Vice President) Wisdom Musonda ( Vice Secretary) Blessings Siame ( Treasurer)
Forest Rangers Football Club has been very instrumental in football talent identification and development through urban and rural football. So far, the club has produced the following notable players:
- 1993 – 2001 Kellies Mwamba Musole Sakulanda, Joe Kabemba, Aston Mbewe and John Mubanga
- 2002 to date Felix Katongo, Nyambe Mulenga, Zebron Njovu, Nasha Kaya, Osward Kalamba, Sebastian Mwansa, Lwipa Juma, Floyd Phiri, Daudi Musekwa, Christopher Musonda, Kelvin Kanyenga, Allan Chibwe, Frazer Mwewa, Prince Mubita, Bizwell phiri, Michael Phiri and Kennedy Chansa Mpoya, Walter Bwalya Binene Sabwa, Dieugo Apanane, Fred Tshimenga, and George Stama.
Team profile
- Nickname : Fole Malembe
- Formed : 1975
- Sponsors :Zambia Forestry and Forest industries Corporation
- Team colours : Green and yellow
- Home ground : Levy Mwanawasa Stadium
- Local league honours : Nil
- Local cup honours : F
- 1991 Independence Cup runners up
- 2005 Coca-Cola Cup Champions
- 2006 Charity shield runners up
- 2006 Coca-Cola Cup runners up
2020 Second runners up and qualified for CAF Champions league.
Colors[edit]
Traditionally, the club has always worn yellow and green home kits, with green and white as their away and third colors respectively.
Achievements[edit]
- 2005
FAZ MTN Super league Second runners up 2020
CAF Champions league 2020/2021 Qualifiers
- ABSA Cup: 1
- 2023
First-team squad[edit]
- As of 13 June 2021
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
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References[edit]
- ^ "Forest Rangers Players". Zambian Football. 7 February 2016. Retrieved 2020-05-18.
- ^ Musonda, Chisala (11 March 2015). "Forest Target Super Division honours". Zambia Daily Mail.