EXCLUSIVE: “Lack Of Game Time In Serbia Affected Me” - Kangwa

In-form Zambian midfielder, Kings Kangwa, has opened up about his time in Serbia after returning to Israel and taking the league by storm.

The 25-year-old left the Serbian giants in July of this year, two years into his four-year contract, which he signed in July 2022 from Russian Premier League club Arsenal Tula, where he made 55 appearances and scored six goals and nine assists.

Since moving to Serbia, he struggled for playing time but managed to score 12 goals and 9 assists in 56 appearances across all competitions, winning the Serbian league and cup twice before being loaned out to Belgian club Kortrjk.

FRESH START IN ISRAEL

Kangwa joined Israeli Premier League club Hapoel Beer Sheva FC from Red Star Belgrade on a four-year contract for a reported €800,000 fee.

The midfielder returned to Hapoel six years after playing in the club's youth team during the 2017/2018 season, where he scored nine goals across all competitions, and he has quickly established himself as a key member of the squad.

“Lack of game time affected me in Serbia at some point because I did not play much,’ he told SportsBoom.com in an exclusive interview. “But now I am playing; I am in good shape, and that's one of the reasons I am having good numbers and a good season so far. Everyone needs game time to perform and to shine.”

Kangwa has directly contributed to 10 goals (5 goals and 5 assists) in his first 15 games for Hapoel, the most of any of his teammates this season.

PERSONAL TARGET

Kangwa's personal goal this season is to win the Israel league.His team currently leads the table with 34 points in 15 games and hope to maintain their momentum.

“So far so good. We are working hard as a team, and personally, it's been fantastic, so I am just looking forward to finishing strong, keeping enjoying my football here, contributing to the team, and hopefully winning the title at the end of the season.”

After winning the league three years in a row—2015/2016, 2016/2017, and 2017/2018—they have yet to win it again in the last six seasons and will be hoping to end their drought.

LINKS TO SOUTHAMPTON

Following his impressive performance in Israel, Southampton sent scouts to watch him a week ago. However, Kangwa tells Sportsboom that he is focused on Hapoel.

“I am very happy. My focus right now is here. Like I said, I want the team to win the championship; I want to finish strong,” he said.

This is not the first time Kangwa has attracted interest from English clubs, as he was also close to joining Nottingham Forest in August 2023, with the deal falling through; his then club, Red Star Belgrade, rejected the English Premier League side’s €3 million bid for the Zambian midfielder.

RETURN TO AFCON 

Despite the Chipolopolo's underwhelming performance at the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), in which the team was eliminated from the group stage after two consecutive draws against the Democratic Republic of Congo and Tanzania before losing 1-0 to Morocco, Kangwa was one of only two Zambian players to score in the competition, alongside Patson Daka.

He scored the first goal in the 1-1 draw against Congo. The former Happy Hearts Academy player is optimistic about next year's edition, believing the Chipolopolo have what it takes to progress beyond the group stage.

"It is possible; we just need to make really good preparations, and we hope that all of our players will get more game time at their respective clubs. It will help us a lot at AFCON."

Kangwa is one of the players coach Avram Grant will rely on at next year's AFCON, having made his debut in the previous edition. Since 2019, he has appeared in 35 games, scoring seven goals and providing six assists.