3/1 To Win
Offrande Zanzala returned to Derby County sporting some new hardware after a historic season on loan at Accrington Stanley.
The Rams’ forward was sent to the League Two club in January and four months later he had etched his named in the history books by helping Accrington win the league title and earn promotion to League One for the first time in the club’s history.
With his league winner medal draped around his neck, Zanzala told RamsTV: “It’s good to be back, but what a season I have had!
“I was in an environment where everyone was looking for one thing, winning the league. It was great in training and games because it instils that spirit. Each day there was that push to go for the win and promotion.”
After confirming their promotion the game before, Zanzala helped to add style to Accrington’s campaign and pull away in the chase for the title when he scored his first league goal.
Zanzala came on in the 84th minute against Wycombe Wanderers and knew that he must grasp every opportunity he was given to impress.
In extra time, Zanzala was brought down in the area and was given the nod to take the penalty. For the 20-year-old, helping his team to a 4-0 victory and taking another step towards lifting the winner’s trophy really was a dream come true.
He said: “Before that game my two brothers and I had the same dream, that I was going to come on and score a goal. We all believed it was going to happen.
“There wasn’t much time and I had to make sure I was running around and doing the best I could, if something did happen then just take my chance.
“When the ball got played behind and I ran on, it was just a split second where I felt that I was in my comfort zone and I would back myself against a defender.
He added: “Straight away I thought this is a contribution towards promotion, that’s always what I wanted to do. When you are not playing much you tend to question whether you are playing a part towards this great story.
“It was just an amazing feeling. Looking back, these are the things you dream of.”
As well as hitting headlines for their historic season, Accrington were in the news for something more unusual – celebrating their wins with a McDonalds feast.
Zanzala explained the club’s out-of-the-ordinary post-game meal was in line with the team’s ethos.
“We won the league in style, we did it our way and it was very different to other teams. We didn’t really concentrate on what people thought other than ourselves,” he said.
“That was the idea from the chairman and the manager and no one is going to turn a McDonald's down. We won a lot of games so we went to McDonald's a lot!”
It was a fairy-tale season for the club and an experience that Zanzala is grateful for, on and off the pitch.
Between team trips to McDonald's and champagne showers, the striker took a journey of self-discovery that he is sure will help him return to Derby a better player.
“Living in Liverpool helped me to get to know myself and make sure I can be the best I can be when my time comes. It was stuff that maybe I wouldn’t have learned if I stayed in Derby living at home,” he said.
“You learn about yourself and your responsibilities. It wasn’t easy, but sharing a house with the lads was good. Some of them were going through similar things, like not playing regularly.
“I think I adapted well and I enjoyed every minute of it, I would say it was a great loan for me.”
