Happy Malama

Happy Malama (born 1947) is a former Zambian goalkeeper who played for Roan United and was in goal in Zambia’s first ever World Cup qualifier against Sudan in October 1968. He is often mistaken for Innocent “Mummy” Malama, another goalkeeper who featured for the national team prior to Zambia's independence. In 1970, Malama moved from Roan to Chibuku Warriors for what was then the record transfer fee in Zambian football.

Early life Malama was born in Luanshya and went to Makoma Primary School. He played as a goalkeeper in the Luanshya Youth League alongside future Zambian internationals and Roan United teammates Boniface Simutowe, Sandy Kaposa and Willie Chifita. At the age of thirteen, he started playing for the school team and continued doing so when he graduated to Luanshya Central School and when he completed his second year of secondary education, he left school to join Roan United's reserve team in 1962. He played in the second game as well, a 2–3 defeat but did not feature in the final game which Zambia won by the same score line.

He returned to man the posts for Zambia in 1967 when they lifted the Jamhuri Cup and the Heroes Cup against Kenya and Uganda respectively. He was in goal when Zambia played their first ever World Cup qualifier against Sudan which they won 4–2 in Ndola and featured in the second leg which Zambia lost by the same score but were eliminated by virtue of losing the second leg.

In October 1969, Malama quit the national team after a game against Daring Falcons Club of Zaire in which he fractured his wrist and no Football Association of Zambia official went to see him afterwards. He however made a comeback the following year and helped Zambia eliminate Tanzania from the CAN race 6–2 on aggregate. His last game for Zambia was a 4–3 defeat to Malawi on 18 March 1971 in a friendly match in Zomba. In all, he made 21 appearances for Zambia.

Honours

Club Heinrich Cup: 1966

National team Malama won a number of minor trophies with the national team: Rothmans International trophy: 1965, 1966 (3 match series with Kenya) Malawi Republic Cup: 1966 Jamhuri Cup: 1967 in Kenya Heroes Cup:1968 against Uganda Uganda Independence Cup: 1968 Independence Cup: 1968 against Tanzania Peter Stuyvesant Trophy:1969 (3 match series with Malawi) BAT Independence Trophy: 1969 (3 match series with Daring Faucons of Congo DR)