Exclusive: “Zambia Has One Of the Best Rising Stars In Africa” - Clifford Mulenga

According to former Chipolopolo boys midfielder Clifford Mulenga, the COSAFA region's youth football has become competitive in recent years as a result of member countries' ongoing investments in grassroots football.

Mulenga's career was filled with victories and some moments of disciplinary issues. Mulenga, now a national youth development coach, with the Zambian FA had a prolific football career, featuring for several clubs both locally and internationally.

He became the first young player from Southern Africa to receive the CAF Young Player Award in 2007. He was given this award in recognition of his exceptional skill and promise as a young football player.

When Ivory Coast lost to Zambia 8–7 on penalties in the 2012 Africa Cup of Nations final, he was the winner. He never got to the AFCON final podium to receive his gold medal, as he was sent away from camp by then coach, French men, Herve Renard.

With Zesco United, nine-time champions, he won the 2015 Zambian Premier League championship. He won the MTN 8 and Telkom title, and the Nedbank Cup with SuperSport United in 2012.

COSAFA YOUTH FOOTBALL

Speaking in an exclusive interview with SportsBoom.com, he responded that it is incorrect to say that the existing method of using the COSAFA young competitions as a platform to qualify for the U20 is an easy system for qualifiers.

“I think it's a very wrong assertion” “I think the sentiment of that comes because Zambia has been a very dominant COSAFA region. So, people tend to think that it's easy to win the COSAFA tournament. Other countries that come to participate in there also use this tournament to expose their best talent in their country.

"So, our kids are going out there to play against other best young kids from other countries as well. So, it is a very good platform for our kids because it also gives them exposure to be seen by bigger clubs in other countries as well. COSAFA is a very good platform for us.”

BEST YOUTH TALENT

In the years 2017, 2019, 2022, and 2024, the Zambia U-17 boys team won the COSAFA championship four times. On the senior side, the U-20 boys team has won COSAFA on thirteen separate occasions, most recently in 2024.

With players like Patson Daka, a striker for Leicester City FC; Enock Mwepu, a former Brighton & Hove Albion FC player; and Fashion Sakala, a former Glasgow Rangers striker, Zambia won their first U-20 AFCON championship at home in 2017.

“So, I think when you look at Africa, we have one of the best young talents in Africa. So, we are able to compete against anyone. The only thing that needs to be done is for the players to believe in themselves, to believe in the coaches that are coaching them.

"To go out there and show their talent, they need to feel free to be able to perform at their best. So, we definitely, definitely, we do have the talent to compete with anyone in the World.”

LOOKING AHEAD

Clifford Mulenga says Zambian young players have the skills necessary to compete against any youth team on the African continent provided they are given the proper training.

According to him, one of the greatest venues for giving young players adequate exposure is the COSAFA competition. However, in order for them to advance and maintain their competitiveness both domestically and abroad, their coaches must improve this exposure.