Name: Zacharia Vusi Lamola
Nickname: "Computer", "General", "Maria Maria", "Hurry Hurry"
Country:
South AfricaClub: Kaizer Chiefs F.C.
Position: *AMF, CMF
Side: RF/BS
Age: 22-28 years (13/03/1950)
Height: 168 cm
Weight: 68 kg
Attack: 76
Defence: 55
Balance: 71
Stamina: 79
Top Speed: 83
Acceleration: 84
Response: 72
Agility: 82
Dribble Accuracy: 75
Dribble Speed: 78
Short Pass Accuracy: 82
Short Pass Speed: 77
Long Pass Accuracy: 82
Long Pass Speed: 76
Shot Accuracy: 75
Shot Power: 81
Shot Technique: 77
Free Kick Accuracy: 65
Curling: 71
Header: 63
Jump: 67
Technique: 75
Aggression: 78
Mentality: 77
Goalkeeper Skills: 50
Team Work: 84
Injury Tolerance: B
Condition: 5
Weak Foot Accuracy: 5
Weak Foot Frequency: 5
Consistency: 5
Growth type: Early/Peak
CARDS:
S02 - Passer
SPECIAL ABILITIES: Playmaking - Passing
Attack/Defence Awareness Card: Attack Minded
INFO:
Lamola is a former attacking or central midfielder. He spent the majority of his career at Kazier Chiefs, making 246 appearances and scoring 99 goals from 1971 to 1979. He retired one year later after short experiences with American club Edmonton Drillers and South African team Makwane Computer Stars. He represented his country in a few occasions by playing for South Africa XI in 1977.
Considered one of the greatest midfielders in the history of South African football, Lamola was distinguished by his excellent football brain and quick thinking of play on the pitch that earned him the nickname "Computer". He was also nicknamed "Maria Maria" and "Hurry Hurry" for his pace, and "General" for his authority in the midfielder position. Although he scored a very good number of goals, he was more of a creator and assist-man. He was the one who orchestrated the play from the back.
Lamola stated in interviews that his most memorable match was the 1972 Life Challenge Cup final against Orlando Pirates where he replaced noneother than Ace Ntsoelengoe after only 10 minutes due to injury but ended up assisting two goals, equalising Pirates' initial 2-0 lead, and assisting five more during extra-time in an astonishing 7-3 win. Whereas his most memorable goal was a lob against Highlands Park in the 1978 Mainstay Cup final that required more intelligence than power.