Football
Exclusive: Elias Kachunga Eyes Cambridge Resurgence After Tough League One Start
Elias Kachunga shares his journey from injury frustration to leading Cambridge United's resurgence in League One. Insights on team spirit, mentoring young players, and overcoming challenges.
Image Credits: Chris Vaughan - CameraSport via Getty Images
Former Premier League star Elias Kachunga hopes he can help struggling Cambridge fulfil their potential after a nightmare start to the season.
Kachunga famously won promotion to the topflight with Huddersfield Town in 2017.
But frustratingly he got injured at the start of the season and was forced to watch the misfiring U’s land just one point in their opening nine league fixtures.
Eight defeats and one draw were understandably hard to swallow, but experienced forward Kachunga believes the club have turned the corner as they look to climb up the Legaue One table.
It’s no coincidence Kachunga’s return to the side helped the U’s string together a fantastic five-game unbeaten run to kickstart their season.
“It was a tough start for the team,” Kachunga told SportsBoom.com.
“We obviously went into the season with different ambitions, but I think after going nine games without a win, well we had to quickly change that.”
“But we then went on a really good run and won five games in a row, which was great for us.”
“It’s such a tough division, we all know that, even the teams that have come up like Stockport and Wrexham have done really well.”
“When you get promoted you tend to start the season on a real high, that sometimes gives you a real push – and the knock-on effect is that the league gets ever tougher and more competitive.”
“But in general I think it’s a really tough league this season because even the teams that got promoted have ambitions to go straight up to the next division.”
It’s really competitive, but we have to fight for every point this season
Elias Kachunga
“It’s easy when you’re on a winning run, but when you’re not sometimes the players splits into different groups and not everyone is pulling on the same strings.”
“So it was realty important for us to stick together this time because we knew we just needed one good result to get things going, and then go on a run.”
He added: “For me personally it was really frustrating because I started the season and then picked up an injury and was out for a few weeks, so watching from the side is hard.”
“It was good to get back and to have been able to help the team on the last good run we had.”
Kachunga played two seasons with the Terriers in the topflight and also has plenty of Championship and Bundesliga experience under his belt having played for a number of well-known clubs including Borussia Monchengladbach, Sheffield Wednesday and Bolton Wanderers.
The 32-year-old former DR Congo international loves nothing more than passing off his wisdom to younger players as they look to make their own way in the game.
I’ve been in the game a long time and played a lot of games, and I’ve played in lots of different divisions, whether that be higher up or in League One.
Elias Kachunga
“I try every day to give something to the younger players to try and help them, especially for those who have not played at the highest level and want to get there one day.”
“When you’re injured it’s hard to pass that experience on, but since I’ve come back, I’m feeling really good and started lots of games, it’s allowed me to have an impact on the team on the pitch.”
Neil has been a journalist for longer than he'd care to remember, having written for national newspapers and respected publications for over 25 years. For the last three years he has worked freelance for BBC Sport, working on the production desk as a sub-editor and also as a writer, covering a whole range of sports.