February 9, 2008
Name: Clifford Mulenga
Nickname: Diego (Maradona) or The Master
Jersey Number: 7
Date of Birth:05/08/1987
Club : Pretoria University
Position: Winger
Honours: COSAFA Runner Up-2005, CAF African Youth Cup, 2007 FIFA World Youth Cup
Individual Honour: 2007 African Young Player of Year
It has taken exactly 20 years for a player from Southern Africa to ever claim a CAF award, Clifford Mulenga entered the record books on February 1, 2008 when the young wing wizard was named 2007 CAF African Young Player of the Year.
Only Mulenga’s fellow countryman Kalusha Bwalya has won a CAF award before having been named the Best Player of the Year in 1988 when he was playing at Cercle Brugge in Belgium.
Nicknamed ‘The Master,’the Lusaka born has never played league football in Zambia. The highly rated Mulenga left Zambia for South African renowned Tuks academy run by Supersport soccer analyst and former Manchester United and England goalkeeper Gary Bailey in 2004 as a 16 year old.
And Mulenga is also one of a few Zambian players to have represented the Copperbullets at every level. Mulenga whose father is a University of Zambia lecturer, first represented Zambia in the 2003 African Cup Under-17 qualifiers in the famous Class of 2003 that included the likes of Jacob Mulenga, Ignatius Lwipa, Rainford Kalaba, Davies Nkausu and Felix Katongo. In 2003, the left footed midfielder helped Zambia win the COSAFA Under-20 tournament and he was named the Most Valuable Player and top scorer.
Mulenga has pace burn and announced his arrival on the international scene with an impressive second half substitute appearance against Swaziland in a 2005 COSAFA Cup match and made two assist. Former under-17 and 20 teammate, Rainford Kalaba also made his international debut in the same match.
The new kids on the block did not disappoint. They became Zambia’s impact players coming from the bench to provide pace to attack in the latter stages of the 2006 World and African Cup Qualifiers.
The quick and creative winger whose qualities have been praised as rare and akin to Zambian great Kalusha Bwalya and Argentinean legend Diego Maradona, blossomed under the tutelage of his idol Kalusha who was then Chipolopolo coach.
Surprisingly strong on ball with a lethal left foot, Mulenga established himself as one of the key members of the Chipolopolo boys that was named in the squad for AFCON 2006. But lucky was not on his side as he injured his ankle on the eve of the tournament.
The 21 year old international had carved out a reputation as an exciting and skillful midfielder for the national team.
Mulenga had a two year unhappy spell at Swedish side Örgryte IS and the midfielder returned to his division one side Pretoria University (Tuks) in 2007.
2007 spurned out as his best football year, the former Chimparamba Youth Player, made history when he featured for Zambia at all levels except for under-17 in a single year. He started his year at the 2007 CAF African Youth Cup where he was one of the star players at the championship and scored four goals. Zambia qualified for the 2007 FIFA World Youth Cup.
His starring role at the African Youth Cup led to a lot of interest from European clubs Mulenga was also pivotal at club level as he almost single handedly led Pretoria University to the South Africa Premier Soccer league but lost out a playoff.
Mulenga can line up either centrally behind the strikers or floating wide on the left and right wings. Yet wherever he lines up, he can be a devastating attacking force, especially when using his quick feet, pace and perfect balance to effortlessly glide past defenders.
Despite not featuring for the Chipolopolo boys under Patrick Phiri, the gifted winger made a return to the senior squad in a 1-1 draw against Chad. At the same time, Mulenga was part of the Peter Kaumba coached Under-23 that was involved in the Beijing 2008 Olympics qualifying matches.
But his best performance was saved for the 2007 FIFA World Youth Cup in Canada. Despite missing Zambia’s first game, the silky and tricky midfielder put up a man of the match performance against the Gerald Pique’s Spain.
Arguably Zambia’s golden generation that included the likes of Emmanuel Mayuka, William Njovu, Stophira Sunzu, Joseph Zimba, Sebastian Mwansa, Rogers Kola and Fwayo Tembo made it to the last 16 and all the players looked up to Mulenga for inspirational and no wonder they dubbed him ‘The Master’.
After the World Youth Cup, Mulenga and Kalaba were dropped from the Under-23 squad and this led to for an outcry from the fans for their inclusion but Kaumba refused. When the junior Chipolopolo boys were booted out of the race, the fans turned the hit on Kaumba.
With such background, national team coach Patrick Phiri, included ‘The Master’ in his Ghana 2008 AFCON squad despite not rating the Zambian crowd favourite. At the tournament, Mulenga warmed the bench save for the last 10 minutes against Sudan. And many fans questioned and angry at the tactical abilities of coach Phiri for leaving out one of Zambia’s lethal attacking weapon on the bench.
While at the tournament, the Lusaka-born was nominated for CAF Young Player of the Year and on February 1, 2008, He was named the 2007 winner.
Mulenga has joined the likes of Nigeria’s John Mikel Obi and Angola’s Al Ahly striker Amando Flavio who won it in the past.
On the award,he said, “I still cannot believe that I was along all those great people and that they were giving me a standing ovation as I went up to take the award. For once I felt like a big star because Samuel Eto’o, Abedi Pele and Freddie Kanoute all stood up for me. It was amazing.
“My heart skipped a bit when I was announced as the winner and I have to admit I felt nervous about the whole experience,” says the University of Pretoria star.
Prior to the 2008 Africa cup of nations a dispute arose after an Israel club as to which club Clifford belonged to. Pretoria University FC claimed he was on their books while Swedish side Orgryte IS claimed they had loaned him to the South African based club.
As for now, the 20 year old will be staying at Pretoria University as the deal to Israeli Maccabi Petach Tikva FC could not be finalised due to the refusal by the national team technical bench to release him to attend medicals while the Chipolopolo were preparing for Ghana 2008 Afcon.
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