January 2, 2008
Name: Jacob Mulenga
Date of Birth: 12.02.84
Place of Birth: Kitwe
Previous Clubs: Afrisports (ZAM),Chatteroux (FRA)
Current Club: Racing Strasbourg (loan, FRA)
His local critics are still not convinced by his potential but his convincing goals, focus and all-round teamwork has won the hearts of many with attributes rarely seen in the league in recent times.
Jacob mulenga was born 12th February, 1984 in kitwe. By the time he was 20 years old, the powerful striker had already represented zambia at all levels. Jacob was a member of famous under-17 and 20 that included Rainford Kalaba, Clifford Mulenga, Felix Katongo, Nkausu and Ignatius Lwipa. He was also capped four times at under-23 level were he scored two goals in the 2004 Athens olympic qualifiers as Peter Kaumba side narrowly missed out on qualification to Ghana.
In the 2003 Mulenga alongside Kalaba and Lwipa, guided the then division one side Afrisport to promotion into Zambia’s premier league as the Kitwe born scored an incredible 32 goals. At start of the new Zambian 2004 premier season in April, the 19 year scored four goals in three games and this led to the then national team coach, Kalusha Bwalya to give him his debut against Sudan in may 2004.
Kalusha took many soccer fans by surprise as he gave him a
starting berth in a 2006 world cup qualifier against the Emmanuel Adebayor led Togo. But at full time the energetic and pacey striker scored the only goal of the game. A month later, he sc
ored an acrobatic bicycle kick against Mauritius in a cosafa castle cup match.
The Zambian hitman made one of the biggest transition on any Zambian player from the lower ranks of Zambian league straight into the European league. Jacob became the second Zambian player to break into the French league at any level since midfield genius Andrew Tembo had a brief spell at Olympique de Marseille in 1994.In December 2003,Jacob together with Collins Mbesuma spent trials at French ligue 1 side Stade Rennes but were unsuccessful.
During the summer of 2004,Jacob with Billy Mwanza had a 3 week long trial with another French side Bastia but again that fell. Bastia’s loss was to be Chatearoux gain as he sighed a four year deal in 2004.In the 2004/05,Jacob had an injury plagued season as he only made 17 appearances and scored five goals. In the 2005/06 he scored six goals in 25 games and he made 27 appearances in next season scoring seven goals.
After an impresive campaign with chateauroux, Mulenga sighed for French ligue 1 side Racing Strasbourg in August 2007. His perfomances at Strasbourg has led to comparison with Chelsea’s Didier Drogba.
The former Afrisports talisman has become a vital member of the chipolopolo boys though he missed the 2006 African cup of Nations through injury. After a missing for a year, Jacob made was recalled to the squad in 2007 and he did not disappoint the fans as he scored the first goal and had a hand in the other two.Mulenga was part of the Chipolopolo boys squad that whitewashed Bafana bafana in september.
The towering striker was one of Zambia’s outstanding players at the Ghana 2008 African Cup of Nations. Mulenga capped his debut AFCON appearance against Sudan with a goal.
33 Comments on "Jacob Mulenga"
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misween phiri on Fri, 18th Jan 2008 10:55 AM
he is a very good winger who desearves to be fully utilised
charlotte on Sat, 17th May 2008 10:38 AM
it’s my star! bonne chance pour la suite.