BY MICHAEL MIYOBA
FORMER Chipolopolo striker Clifford Mulenga has urged young athletes to guard their talents and character for them to continue winning.
The 2012 AFCON winner who was expelled from the Chipolopolo squad by then Chipolopolo head coach Herve Renard for disciplinary reasons said it is not easy being young and multi-talented.
Mulenga, who featured for a number of clubs in the South African premiership and won the 2007 African Footballer of the year said he struggled to be consistent as he failed to combine talent with character.
“Talent got me to some very nice and beautiful places. Talent got me a CAF award in 2007, the envy of many. Talent got me some very good money contracts and beautiful women but unfortunately my character let me down badly,” Mulenga said.
“I failed to combine my talent and character and this is one of my biggest lessons in life. I failed to be consistent,” he said.
Mulenga who now features for Forest Rangers in Ndola has urged youngsters to manage their talents and characters well to continue succeeding in their football careers.
“Patson Daka, the 2017 CAF award winner and a legion of some of our current football stars, Fashion Sakala, Lameck Banda, Klings Kangwa etc have managed well their talents and characters. I hope for them they never lose their good characters even in moments of criticism,” Mulenga said.
He warned players to be careful of people who surround them as they also have potential to destroy their careers.
“Sometimes even the very people around you can destroy your career. Focus on your passion. Respect everyone and be humble,” he said.
“To the young ones out there, being multi-talented is not easy especially when the world is at your feet but good character and consistency will keep you at the top,” Mulenga said.
