THE clock is ticking and every day that passes counts for Zambia Under 19 boys’ handball national team that is presently in camp ahead of the 2014 Africa Cup of Nations Handball championship billed for March 14 to 31 in Nairobi, Kenya.

Handball is one of the fastest growing indoor sports in Zambia. It is an Olympic sport played world over and players are encouraged to be athletic, be flamboyant and inventive, and above all, it involves teamwork.

For some, handball is a game that helps players to keep fit and healthy but in the world of sports, it is a game of physical contact, unlimited substitutions and shots at goal that can reach over 100 km/hour, there are always something exciting happening on the field of play.

One doesn’t have to be a towering giant to play handball, practically anyone can participate but it requires skill in shooting, catching, jumping, blocking, passing and saving.

Zambia has seen a rapid growth of handball with a number of young people at community and schools levels continue to express interest in the sport.

2014 is a year of reckoning for this sport in the country, with the Nanjing Youth Olympics in China and the World championships in Qatar, the growth of handball in Zambia is under microscope.

Qualifying for these two world prestigious tournaments is the ultimate target for the Handball Association of Zambia (HAZ) and the tam at large.

A convincing performance at the Kenya championship will guarantee Zambia spots at the forthcoming world events.

But as preparations for the African Nations cup intensify, this edition of the SPECTRUM singles out one of the rising stars in handball that carries the hope for Zambia at the upcoming tournaments.

Chikatizyo Bwalya-Banda commonly known as ‘Chika’ by his peers is one of the most physical players in the national team.

His natural strengths are speed and endurance, and his shot selection has improved with every game he plays..

Chikatizyo has been one of the most consistent players in the past year as he demonstrated speed and style every time he stepped on the court. His skills and prowess drastically improved.

The teenage player’s attacking ability and command of a match baffles his opponents and killshots are some of the game’s best.

As one of the most athletic in the game, Chikatizyo’s speed and endurance wins ball games. His natural ability to get any ball hit has put him on a top list of pivoters in the game and his agile moves have lit up crowds in the past season.

His sound technique on the court produces ball control, that along with intelligent shot selection are the keys to Chikatizyo’s anticipation in the game.

He chooses shots that keep his opponent on the run, off balance and he dictates games when he knows the few options his opponent has left and positions himself on the court accordingly. The teenage player has been using percentage handball strategy perfectly well, a strategy that advises players to get to the short line in the center of the court after a shot.

Indeed, Chikatizyo has become a fan favorite at every tournament.

Born on September 13 1997, Chikatizyo, a Kasisi Dynamite player has proved to be one of the prolific handball players in the country.

He developed interest in the sport in 2011 and made a quick impact to star for the under 19 national team.

Like father like son, Chikatizyo is the first son of current president of the Handball Association of Zambia, Victor Bwalya-Banda who is also a former handball player.

Inspired by his father, Chikatizyo has set a goal for himself this year, that is to inspire the under 19 boys’ team to the two world events in china and Qatar.

“My father who is the HAZ president inspires me a lot. He is hard working and he always tells me to aim high in life. He was once a good handball player as a ball marker in his days and his passion for the sport makes me work very hard.

I owe my improvements in handball to my parents because they have been there for me. Their sacrifice and teachings and the encouragements have effectively contributed to me reaching this far in the sport,” he said.

Interesting, besides the parents, Chikatizyo looks up to Nathan Shiluwe of Lusaka Tigers as his favorite handball player around the globe and he hopes to reach and surpass the heights that Shiluwe has reached.

“My favorite player in the game of handball is Nathan Shiluwe, he a is very good player who gives me a tough time whenever we play against each other at club level and my team mate Mwenda Bwalya who is one of the best ball markers in Zambia’s handball circles is second on my list.

We live in a modernised world, one has to set their goals straight and really work hard to achieve them if one is to make it big in life through handball just like in football and other sports,” he added.

The 17-year-old school leaver has set his priorities right and he is definitely a player to look out for as Zambia prepares for battle in Africa Cup of Nations.

For now, we can only wish Chikatizyo and the rest of the team all the best as they seek to lift Zambia’s name higher in the eyes of the world through handball, a sport considered minor in the country’s sports circles.

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