Jones Chilengi

Chilengi was still coaching Hwange FC when he fell ill and died after a short illness on 9 April 1999, from haemorrhagic shock in Hwange. He was survived by a wife Anne and four children. One of Zambia's greatest defenders was eulogised as a great trainer and a patriot.

In October 1998, Chilengi watched as Zambia struggled at home against Congo DR in a 1–1 draw under Fighton Simukonda in a Nations Cup qualifier and offered to coach the Zambian team for free, saying that he could put together a formidable side. The Football Association of Zambia (FAZ) did not take up his offer but opted for Ben Bamfuchile instead.

Chilengi first cut his coaching teeth with Zambian Division I side Nitrogen Chemicals of Kafue in 1988 but left them after a season to join Ndola United, on the promise of a coaching course abroad. He turned around the fortunes of United, leading them to a top five finish in 1989 before leaving to join the emerging Premier League side Zamsure F.C. which was on the ascendency. He succeeded in transforming Zamsure into a formidable force in the league, leading them to two runner-up slots. He stayed with Zamsure until 1995 after which he moved to Zimbabwean side Hwange FC and was voted Coach of the Year in 1997.

He then led the Zambian team to CAN 1986 in Egypt where Zambia narrowly lost the first game 3–2 to Cameroon, drew 0–0 with Algeria and went into the last game against Morocco needing a win to advance from the group. However, Merry Abdel Karim's goal, which went in after a deflection off Chilengi put paid to Zambia's hopes.

However, Chilengi never played for Zambia again though he continued at Buffaloes, leading them to the last-ever cup final that was played at Dag Hammarskjoeld Stadium, the Heroes & Unity Cup final which Buffaloes won after beating Mufulira Wanderers 2–0 in September 1986. He retired from football at the end of the 1987 season and took up coaching.

In April 1985, Zambia faced Cameroon in a World Cup qualifier in Lusaka and Chilengi led them to a 4–1 romp. When the Zambians travelled to Yaounde in two weeks time, the Lions recalled all their big names such as Roger Milla and Louis Mfede with the locals predicting a 6–0 white-wash. To the dismay of a packed Stade Ahmadu Adhijo, Zambia took the lead when Chilengi thundered homen a 7th minute free-kick. Although Mfede equalised in the 31st minute through another free-kick, the Zambians defended comfortably and saw out the tie on a 6–2 aggregate. Afterwards, Chilengi said football is about trying your luck sometimes and he did just that and it went in.

Chilengi first featured for Buffaloes in 1976 where he was mainly a reserve defender to the club's first choice central defensive pairing of Dick Chama and Robert Lutoba. When Chama retired at the end of the season, Chilengi established himself in the team as a central defender. He won the 4 Challenge Cups, 2 Champion of Champion trophies, 2 Heroes and Unity Cups and the league title in 1977, 1979 and 1981 with Buffaloes and soon got a call-up to the national team, making his debut at CECAFA 1981. He was initially part of the final squad at CAN 1982 but was sent home for disciplinary reasons.

Jones Chilengi (30 January 1955 – 9 April 1999) was a Zambian footballer and coach. He played as a defender for Zambian club Green Buffaloes and captained Zambia to their first ever regional cup success at CECAFA 1984 in Uganda. He later coached Ndola United, Zamsure and Hwange F.C. of Zimbabwe.