Zambian soccer player clinches deal with Portugese team

LUSAKA, April 14 (Xinhua) -- Zambian midfielder Rainford Kalabahas clinched a five year deal with Portuguese Superliga side Sporting Braga after passing medical tests on Friday, The Pos reported Monday.

The member of Zambian national soccer team, nicknamed the Chipolopolo Boys, would move to the club during the FIFA summer transfer window in June.

"Kalaba has signed a five-year deal with Braga and returns to the club in June for the club's pre-season (training)," the Zambian newspaper quoted a Portuguese newspaper as saying.

"He now returns home ahead of Zambia's 2010 World Cup qualifiers next month," it added.

"I am impressed with how big the club is and it has a spectacular structure and a very nice stadium," Kalaba said in an interview.

This will be Kalaba's second European stint after a one-year stay with French Ligue 1 team OGC Nice in the 2005-2006 soccer season.

Kalaba joins Braga after inspiring ZESCO United of Zambia to their first league title last year, when he was also voted Footballer of the Year as Zambia's top scorer.

The midfielder has been on loan to ZESCO from KCM/FAZ Division One North team Afrisports since July 2006.