CHIPOLOPOLO skipper Rainford Kalaba has missed out on CAF African Footballer of the year based in Africa Award.
The former Zesco United ace, who now plays at Congolese giants TP Mazembe, made the top three shortlist for the award designed to reward players who ply their trade on the continent but lost out to Ugandan goalkeeper Denis Onyango at the 2016 Glo-CAF Awards Gala held at the International Conference Centre in Abuja, Nigeria yesterday Thursday 5, January,2017.
The midfield maestro was influential in guiding Mazembe to glory in the CAF Confederations Cup and emerged as overall top scorer of the tournament with Eight goals.
This was the second time the Zambian skipper was shortlisted in the final three of the African Player of the Year.
Kalaba polled 206 votes while Zimbabwean Khama Billiat and Winner Denis Onyango who got 228 and 252 respectively.
Onyango made history by becoming the first goalkeeper to scoop the award.
The Ugandan Short stopper was critical to Uganda’s qualification to the Africa Cup of Nations for the first time after a 39-year absence, and also starred in Mamelodi Sundowns’ conquest of Africa last year.