MANAGERIAL FOCUS: WHO IS NUMBA MUMAMBA?

NUMBA MUMAMBA is regarded as one of the most exciting player to have graced the Zambian game.

The former Zambia National team midfielder honed his footballing skills at Konkola Blades before moving to Zanaco football club in 1999. It was at Sunset stadium where his star shined brightly winning Zanaco’s first four league titles.

Having helped transform Zanaco into a title-winning machine, Mumamba was granted a cult hero status by the fans, a feat that eventually accorded him an opportunity to lead the Bankers as an assistant coach in 2009.

After six years of deputizing, Mumamba was later elevated to the position of head coach in 2015 following the departure of Aggrey Chiyangi.

Mumamba’s leadership skills and winning mentality as a player did not take long to show as a coach. In 2016, he led Zanaco to their seventh and last Super League title to date.

He further led the Bankers to their maiden Absa Cup title in 2017. Mumamba is also regarded as the first Zanaco coach to reach the Group stage of the CAF Champions League and second to qualify for the Confederation Cup Group stage.

MUMAMBA’S JOURNEY AT ZESCO UNITED FOOTBALL CLUB

MUMAMBA joins one of the biggest football brands in the country and an emerging continental force.

ZESCO United has for the last two decades taken the Zambian football scene by storm. The Ndola based outfit has over the years been transformed into the country’s biggest team after years of being in the shadows of Zambia’s once traditional football powers in Nkana, Power Dynamos, and Mighty Mufulira Wanderers.

The club’s rise to dominance came in 2007, two-years after winning promotion to the topflight of the Zambian game.

ZESCO United has for the last 13-years won, 17 trophies. Eighty Super League titles, Six Absa Cups, and four Charity Shield honors.

Apart from dominating proceedings on the domestic front, ZESCO United have been perennial participants in two of the continents coveted CAF competitions, the CAF Champions League and the Confederation Cup. 

The club has in the last four seasons won the FAZ/MTN Superleague title three-times. However, the 2019/2020 football season was to prove fatal in the clubs’ quest to win its’ ninth league title.

For the first time in eight-years, the club finished outside the top two and missed out on CAF competitions.

MUMAMBA joins ZESCO United at a time when the Zambian Super League giants are plotting their return to the summit of the Zambian game having surrendered the 2019/2020 Super League title to Nkana.

The club has thus far vividly made their intentions of bouncing back stronger through their impressive transfer signings which have resulted in the capture of Kelvin Kampamba from Nkana, Bruce Musakanya (Red Arrows), and Lazarus Phiri from Green Eagles.

Mumamba will also be linking up with Ian Otieno, John Makwata, and Tafadzwa Rusike who joined the club in January this year.

His first assignment will be to oversee the club’s weeklong pre-season training scheduled for Mongu, Western Province before returning to Ndola.

This will be a crucial time for the gaffer to familiarize himself with his new surroundings and also for the players to bond with their new manager.

Mumamba takes over from George Lwandamina who guided the club to its seventh and eighth Super League title and sixth Absa Cup.

Author: Desmond Katongo