AUGUSTINE MULENGA IS PIRATES’ R4-MILLION HOPE
Orlando Pirates coach Micho Sredojevic is hoping that the acquisition of Zambia international striker Augustine Mulenga proves a catalyst to success for his side. Mulenga arrives in Mayfair with impressive credentials as the reigning Zambian Player of the Year and off the back of three goals at the recently completed African Nations Championship in Morocco. He is regarded as one of his country’s top talents and although already 28-years-old, the belief is he could take Pirates to another level having signed a three-year deal. Sredojevic says he has been tracking the player for some time and has been impressed by his qualities. “I belong to those people on the continent who not only love African football but also witness how kids are growing on our continent‚” Sredojevic told reporters.
“And I remember him when he was with Nkwazi FC‚ and have seen how he played in the Champions League with Zanaco.
“He had many destinations to choose from. I know clubs in France wanted him‚ clubs in North Africa. But he chose to come to us.
“We are welcoming him in our family. And the Orlando Pirates football family has a very accommodative big space and big heart for everyone.
“And we expect that with the amount of talent shown in the last match where he played against Ivory Coast in CHAN (African Nations Championship)‚ that South African football lovers are looking to see something in that fashion.
“His arrival as the best player from Zambia at present is an asset to our (South African) football‚ and asset to us as a team. And we are looking that he will add value to the team.”
Mulenga was something of a late bloomer, only entering the professional ranks in 2012 with Nkwazi in his homeland.
He spent two seasons there before joining Nkana in 2014 and later Zanaco, where he had a fruitful last 18 months.
He made his Zambia national team debut in March 2017 and has been a fixture ever since.
He will start training with Pirates this week after being given some time off after the CHAN tournament, and is ready to make his mark in the local Premier Soccer League and add to the fine reputation forged by Zambian players in the past, the likes of Collins Mbesuma, Issac Chansa and the late Dennis Lota.
Mulenga joins compatriot Justin Shonga at Pirates and his reported R4-million price-tag means that when fit and able, he is likely to go straight into the first team.
That could spell an end for Thamsanqa Gabuza at the club, with the latter having not been in action since the middle of December.