Sun, 17 Dec 2017 11:58:47 +0000
By MICHAEL MIYOBA in Ndola
AUGUSTINE Mulenga, the 2017 MTN/FAZ Super League Player of the Year winner says the award will motivate him to perform even better during the 2018 soccer season.
Speaking after receiving his award, Mulenga said that it was encouraging for him to be recognised as the best player of the year in the league which consists of talented players.
Mulenga dedicated the award to his daughter who passed away when he was in Nigeria with the Zambia national soccer team during a 2018 group B Russia World Cup qualifier played in Uyo State.
“It feels good to win this award. This award reminds me of my late daughter who recently passed away. Thank God for giving me the courage to fight for each situation that came my way and I will continue to work hard so that I can perform better next year,” Mulenga said.
Mulenga scored a brace in Zanaco’s final league fixture against Green Eagles and completed the league with seven goals.
He helped Zanaco reach the group stage of the CAF Champions League which was eventually won by Wydad Casablanca of Morocco.
The influential midfielder, whose fate at Zanaco remains in doubt also helped his club finish second in the local league and qualified for next year’s CAF Champions League in which the bankers have been pitted against Armed Forces of Gambia in their first fixture to be played in February.
And Nkana Football Club coach Beston Chambeshi, who was crowned 2017 Coach-of-the-Year commended Nkana management for the support rendered during the 2017 soccer season.
Chambeshi added that he was proud to have won the award especially after being paired among the best coaches such as Zanaco’s Numba Mumamba and Green Buffaloes’ coach Bilton Musonda who guided his team to finish fourth in the league and qualified for the CAF Confederations Cup tournament.
Meanwhile, Congolese born Chris Mugalu, who walked away with the golden boot award for his 20 goals in the league hailed the competition among players in the league.
Mugalu added that it was encouraging for him to have topped the top scorer’s chat in his first year of playing in the Super League. Zanaco central defender Ziyo Tembo who scooped the most disciplined player ahead of Nkana’s Ronald “Sate Sate” Kampamba and Zesco United’s Kondwani Mutonga, commended FAZ and MTN for rewarding players for their efforts in the Super League.
