WE have big plans for Rainford Kalaba, Afrisports chief executive officer Gabby Kaunda has said.

In an interview following the expiry of Kalaba's contract with FC Nice, Kaunda said he has received various offers from Europe regarding the enterprising young national team midfielder.

"We did not rush him when we took him to France. It was just a one-year contract and the condition was that he went there to train, (gain) exposure and to start shaping himself up," Kaunda said. He said the fact that Kalaba's contract was not renewed did not mean that he was a bad player.

"Kalaba is not a bad player and I have big plans for him. A lot of teams want him and I have been contacted by teams from Denmark and Belgium," he said.

Kaunda said Kalaba will be playing for Afrisports before they finally secure a good team for him.

"He will for now play for Afrisports then we will look for a good team for him. Kalaba is still a young player and has a lot of talent and the arrangement with Nice was like an attachment. So we are not rushing him," he said.

And Kaunda said he was impressed with Ignatius Lwipa's progress at Zanaco.  I feel he (Lwipa) should move forward," he said. Lwipa is on a one-year loan at Zanaco from Afrisports.

Kalaba was last week offloaded by his club FC Nice where he had a one-year contract with the team's reserve side.

The 20-year-old was told his services were no longer needed, as he had not played enough games to warrant a contract with the main team.