Chanka Zimba details how Caley Thistle move was sold to him by boss Scott Kellacher
The 23-year-old Englishman signed a one-year deal with the League One Highlanders earlier this month and made his debut in the closing moments of Saturday's 2-0 victory against Peterhead.
He then looked lively in Tuesday's 4-1 KDM Evolution Trophy win at Elgin City – albeit he didn't open his scoring account.
Zimba came through the youth scholarship route at Blackburn Rovers before joining Cardiff City in 2020.
The forward then build up experience on loan spells at Northampton Town, Newport County and Maidenhead United, and was with National League North side Marine last season.
Zimba impressed Kellacher on trial and netted a one-year contract with ICT – whose goal is to win back their place in the Championship two years after dropping down to League One.
In his first interview since joining Caley Thistle, he told The Press and Journal: 'We have high ambitions and we have a lot of good players, so we want to do good things this season.
'The manager sold it to me and said he thinks I can score a lot of goals here, and help the team.
'He's confident in what I can do. It's time for me to return that faith.'
Zimba added: 'I had a few loan spells at Northampton, Newport and Maidenhead, so I've build up good experience.
'It's brilliant to now get a permanent deal and I'm grateful to the manager who has put a lot of faith in me.
'It's a long way from my family, but it helps me focus on my trade – I just want to help the boys.
'It's great to be involved with the boys. We will take it game by game.
'We're showing good form, and have started the season well. We just need to maintain the momentum.'
For the Caley Thistle fans who have yet to see him, Zimba described what they can expect.
He said: 'I like to make runs off the shoulder.
'I'm really good in and around the box.
'I'm a good runner, with a lot of pace. Fans will see a lot of shots from me.
'I've not scored yet, but I've been creating chances, so once the goals come, I'll be happier.'
It is only two weeks since his Inverness arrival, but Zimba explained the warm welcome has really helped.
He added: 'I've not been here for long, but I feel like I've been here for a long time.
'The boys and the gaffer has been brilliant. Everyone has been welcoming. I am settling in well.
'Two weeks ago I got a call and it happened really quickly as things happen in football.
'I was saying my goodbyes and then I was making the long trip up, but I am really happy to be here.'
A double from Alfie Bavidge, including a last-gasp spot-kick, as well as a penalty from Paul Allan and a first competitive goal for Robbie Thompson, earned Caley Thistle their 4-1 win at League Two Elgin.
ICT assistant boss Billy Mckay was thrilled, even after making 10 changes to their starting 11, to see the players rose to the challenge.
He said: 'Everyone is up for every game – be it the North of Scotland Cup, the KDM Evolution Trophy, or the league.
'Everyone wants to play, get fit and get stronger. Some players are at different stages compared to others in terms of fitness, so it was good for many players to get minutes in their legs on Tuesday.
'A special mention to James Clark, who made his full debut on Tuesday – he was fantastic, as was Sam Thompson in the middle, in his first start in a senior game.
'Ben Gardiner also came on, so it's great for the younger boys to be pushing.
'We're building a squad with depth and we trust the players. We also had senior boys playing, who want to push for the team every week.
'The gaffer said to the lads before playing Elgin that we wanted to keep the momentum going, to win every game in every competition.
'We're not going to win every game, but if you set those standards and you fall below it then you will put demands on one another and that's what the boys done on Tuesday. And that carried on from our first two league games this season.'
Inverness have already wiped out their minus-five points deduction at the start of their League One season, a disadvantage from going into administration last term, thanks to 3-0 and 2-0 victories over Kelty Hearts and Peterhead.
They can move into the top half of the table if they beat Stenhousemuir at home this weekend.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Wales Online
8 minutes ago
- Wales Online
Ryan Reynolds and Tom Brady in fight for budding Liverpool ace as Wrexham eye 11th signing
Ryan Reynolds and Tom Brady in fight for budding Liverpool ace as Wrexham eye 11th signing Wrexham and Birmingham are battling it out with several other teams for Liverpool forward Lewis Koumas, who is set to leave the Premier League club before transfer deadline day Ryan Reynolds' Wrexham are facing a tough battle with Birmingham for Liverpool's Lewis Koumas (Image: PA Wire/PA Images) Wrexham and Birmingham City are gearing up for a transfer battle over Liverpool youngster Lewis Koumas. The two Championship rivals are at the forefront of a lengthy list of potential suitors for the Welsh international. The 19-year-old forward has become hot property following a successful stint in the second tier last season while on loan at Stoke City. Sheffield United have maintained a keen interest in the player throughout the year, with Norwich City, Preston North End and Hull City also monitoring the situation closely. However, it's Wrexham, owned by Hollywood stars Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney and Birmingham, where NFL icon Tom Brady holds a minority stake, that are leading the pursuit for Koumas. Both clubs are believed to be prepared to offer a permanent deal to him after he scored on his senior Liverpool debut in an FA Cup victory over Southampton in February last year. Koumas, who was on the bench for the Reds' League Cup final triumph over Chelsea in 2023/24, has made 50 senior appearances and has also earned six full Wales caps. The reigning Premier League champions view the forward as being further along in his development than a player like Bobby Clark was when he left Anfield for RB Salzburg in a £10million deal last year. With 16-year-old Rio Ngumoha having risen from the club's academy in the past nine months, first-team opportunities for Koumas were limited during pre-season to a second-half appearance at Preston and a brief cameo in the opening friendly against Athletic Bilbao. Article continues below Liverpool forward Lewis Koumas is being chased by Wrexham and Birmingham (Image: Robbie Jay Barratt - AMA/Getty Images) Koumas is anticipated to depart before the transfer deadline on September 1 and was notably absent as Liverpool's under-21s' lost at Leicester City in the Premier League 2 on Monday. If he does make the move to Wrexham, he would likely become the club's eleventh summer signing. The Red Dragons have so far brought in nine new faces after securing promotion from League One in April, including Wales trio Danny Ward, Kieffer Moore and Nathan Broadhead. Man City youngster Callum Doyle is expected to become the tenth after a deal worth up to £8m was agreed between the two clubs. With Wrexham losing their opening two Championship games against Southampton and West Brom, manager Phil Parkinson is keen to add more recruits following a busy summer. Speaking after their latest defeat to the Baggies last weekend, the former Bolton and Sunderland boss said a few areas of his squad still needed strengthening. Watch Welcome to Wrexham season 4 on Disney+ This article contains affiliate links, we will receive a commission on any sales we generate from it. Learn more from £4.99 Disney+ Get Disney+ here Product Description Welcome to Wrexham is back on Disney+ for a fourth season. Fans can watch the series with a £4.99 monthly plan, or get 12 months for the price of 10 by paying for a year upfront. "The lads we've brought in at the moment are really good and I'm pleased with the way they've settled in," he said. "We probably do need a couple more players and we're looking at that. "It's ongoing, it's obviously busy for all managers and clubs at the moment when you're preparing for games and looking to improve the squad." Parkinson was dealt a blow earlier this week following the news that summer signing Josh Windass will be out of action for up to six weeks. The attacking midfielder has impressed during Wrexham's opening games, scoring from the penalty spot in the defeat to Southampton, but came off with a hamstring injury against West Brom last Saturday. "Josh is going to be out for four to six weeks with his hamstring," said Parkinson. Obviously it's a blow because he's been great for us. Even in the first half hour against West Brom he was really good and obviously down at Southampton. Article continues below "It is really frustrating for him and for us but it's part and parcel of football and we've got to deal with it. With the international break coming up, by the time that's finished he won't be far off."
The Independent
8 minutes ago
- The Independent
Daredevil slackliners battle for championship 400 metres above ground
Heart-stopping footage captured competitors in a high-altitude slacklining championship in central China. The event, the eighth of its kind, took place in Zhangjiajie City, Hunan Province, from 18 to 20 August 2025. More than 20 elite slackliners from 10 countries participated, vying for the championship title. The challenge involved walking a two-centimetre-wide slackline suspended 400 metres above the ground and stretching 1,450 metres between two peaks. Watch the video in full above
BBC News
8 minutes ago
- BBC News
Will 'bold and ambitious' spending pay off?
I think it is fair to say Sunderland have defied all expectations when it comes to their summer only in terms of the money spent but in the number of players fans instinctively knew Sunderland's squad from the Championship needed strengthening for the Premier League campaign. Five or six players with Premier League experience would conservatively have been a lot of people's estimation, but as to how much they would cost and whether that would be enough was always going to be the big question. No-one really knew how much owner Kyril Louis-Dreyfus would be prepared to spend with his model of sustainability at the forefront of everything the club has done in his tenure. He and his team have blown everyone away with the money spent but also with the quality of the players signed. Granit Xhaka is the standout example, but he's not the only one. Habib Diarra, Omar Alderete, Noah Sadiki, Simon Adingra, the list goes defeat of West Ham, albeit only one game, suggested all these players are comfortable in their Premier League skin. The bonus was their three goals were scored by three players who came up with the team from the a bold and ambitious bid to stay up but Sunderland fans are certainly backing them to do so. How does it compare to other promoted clubs? According to transfermarkt,, external Sunderland now top the all-time list for amount spent by a promoted club in the Premier a summer spend of £142m so far, both them, and fellow promoted side Burnley - who have spent £109m - are hoping for a solid return on their far as the numbers go, the other four teams to have spent big upon their Premier League return have had mixed Aston Villa and Nottingham Forest narrowly avoided the drop after busy summer windows following promotion, but are now playing in last summer saw Southampton an Ipswich finish as the bottom two sides in the league.
