He soon succeeded Bernard Kabwe in the first team, making his debut on 27 July 1980 in a league encounter against Lusaka Tigers at Shinde Stadium in Mufulira.

He had a brief spell in Argentina with Argentinos Juniors during the 1991/92 season but he returned to Wanderers in March 1992 claiming the conditions of his contract were unsatisfactory, and the club were not willing to change them.

[6][7] In December 1992, Chabala was substituted in the Independence Cup final against Nkana Red Devils after he conceded three goals when Wanderers were leading 2–0 but went on to lose 3–2.

Ghana attacked from the word go, throwing everything at the Zambians who despite conceding a first half goal by Tony Yeboah, held on to qualify 2–1 on aggregate with man of the match Chabala pulling out all the stops, including saving a penalty from Emmanuel Quarshie.

"[10] At the Olympic Games, Zambia recorded some impressive results with Charles Musonda pulling the strings in midfield and Kalusha Bwalya in devastating form, drawing with Iraq 2–2 and brushing aside Italy and Guatemala by 4–0 scorelines to progress to the quarter finals.

Chabala made another appearance at the 1990 African Cup of Nations where journalists voted him the best goalkeeper at the tournament, keeping four clean sheets in five games and helping Zambia to third place.

His last appearance at the Nations Cup was in 1992 in Senegal where Zambia yet again underachieved, falling 1–0 to eventual winners Ivory Coast in extra-time at the quarter-final stage.

He however said he was not surprised by the action and charged that he was paying the price for expressing his opinion prior to the Football Association of Zambia elections that the leadership should not change hands, which did not go down well with new President Michael Mwape.

After refuelling in Libreville, the plane developed problems and plunged into the sea on 27 April 1993 killing all 30 people on board including Football Association of Zambia president Michael Mwape and airforce crew members.

The entire nation was in shock and the scale of the tragedy sank in when 30 coffins holding the remains of their beloved team were flown in for a state burial.