YB jewel Miguel Chaiwa (18) – how the Bernese Salzburg snatched him away
He speaks softly, keeps laughing – and his English is not flawless Oxford. Miguel Changa Chaiwa (18) is in Europe for exactly two weeks. Although he comes from the Zambian capital Lusaka (2.4 million inhabitants), Europe is still a culture shock for the 18-year-old. “A big one even,” commits YB sports director Steve von Bergen (39). “It’s a huge change for such a young person. But you don’t tell Miguel. He integrates very well. He’s open and interested.”
Von Bergen shows this with an example: “He told me that he was looking for a German teacher in Zambia – and found one who gave him courses in the afternoon. So he came to us and was able to say right away: ‘How are you?’ That’s a good start!»
A humble, simple guy
Chaiwa himself combines it like this: “I’m a modest guy who does what the coach asks.” It’s his dream come true to play in Europe. And then at YB, says Chaiwa. well Champions League participants. And it wasn’t even long ago.
Certainly a certain one helped too… Emmanuel Mayuka (31), compatriot from Chaiwa, who played 84 games for YB between 2010 and 2012 and scored a whopping 32 goals. «He told me about YB. Only good things,” says Chaiwa. “That’s why I’m here.”
Explorer Chappi – as so often
He was discovered, how could it be otherwise, by YB chief scout Stéphane Chapuisat (turned 53 on Tuesday). And how? «Via a consultant. And then, of course, because he had already made an international match for Zambia’s senior national team when he was 17,” explains von Bergen.
YB flew him in six months ago for a two-week trial with the U21s – and he was convincing. “We found it very exciting,” said the head of sport. “Explosive, fast, strong, defensively versatile.” However, this did not prevent the frequently clicked football site Transfermarkt from having not found a portrait of the neo-Berner, nor from estimating and naming a market price for him.
Von Bergen: «Messi was a jewel. Or Neymar»
A real gem though… one would think. Von Bergen puts it into perspective: “I don’t like to talk about a jewel. We don’t want to emphasize him like that. Messi was a jewel. neymar No, Miguel is a defensive player with a lot of potential.” But jewel so far that YB Red Bull Salzburg snatched him away. He was also in trial training there.
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