Popularly known as ‘Big Mike’as he stood over six-feet tall, he is remembered for scoring a hat-trick against Cameroon in a World Cup qualifier in Lusaka in 1985.
Chabala first played as a forward for Zambian Division I side Mufulira Blackpool in 1977, alongside players like Alex Chola, John ‘Fuso’ Lengwe and Simon Kaushi.
Vitafoam won the 1981 Independence Cup with a 2–1 victory over Strike Rovers in October 1981 but Chabala was not part of that success as he had left three months previously to join Nkana Red Devils of Kitwe.
In 1985, Chabala got a call-up to the national team under Brightwell Banda and he made his debut against Zimbabwe in a friendly match in Bulawayo in February 1985 which Zambia lost 3–2.
With the emergence of a young Kenneth Malitoli, Chabala found his opportunities limited so he moved to Zambian Premier League side Kalulushi Modern Stars in 1988 and later coached the team.