Not too Mighty Mufulira Wanderers

The struggle is real

What is expected this coming season

Growing up as a kid , if you never heard the name Mufulira Wanderers then you were not interested in this game. It has for long defined Zambian football and what we are if you you want to believe that we are footballing Nation, it will have to be connected to this team. MUFULIRA WANDERERS .

Won their first title in 1963 and won three in a row from 1965 to 1967. They failed to make it four in a row as Kabwe Warriors got it in 1968 and Mighty got it back in 1969.

They would then wait for seven years until 1976 to get their sixth title with the 1978 edition as their seventh.

Nkana would then come to the scene and dominate Zambian football , making Mighty disappear for some time were the league title was concerned .

We would only hear of Mufulira Wanderers winning the league 17 years after in 1995 and 1996 when they would win two in row.

DOOR CLOSED

We would then close the door for one big Mighty to a mare team that would then be participating to avoid relegation . They would go into relegation, come back without any purposes and fight to survive.

WHATEVER HAPPENED

There is always a consolation that while Nkana was ripping out leagues, Mighty was busy collecting as many cup titles as possible and statistics now make us believe that Mighty has a total of 49 trophies in their cabinet. Making them the most successful club in the Zambian game.

It will take long to get this team back to its Mighty name as things have just gone in reverse and the team ain’t just clicking . There could be many reasons but let me detail a few I think have affected the team:

AVERAGE PLAYERS

From being a team which had the cream of Zambian players , the team today has to wait for bigger teams to sample, use players and give the excess to Mufulira Wanderers. They no longer compete as a big team .

Let me refresh your memories to some of the great players ever to grace this team.

Benjamin Bwalya, Johnson Bwalya, Kalusha Bwalya, Efford Chabala, Dick Chama, Harrison Chongo, Frederick Kashimoto, Dickson Makwaza, Gibby Mbasela, Ashious Melu, Philemon Mulala, Ackim Musenge, Charly Musonda, Samuel Ndhlovu, Paul Chellah, Bilton Musonda, Vincent Mutale and George Lwandamina.

Looks like a dream today, because you can’t have such players at this club in this era. It would just end in a dream for Chris Mugalu, Jesse Were, Lazarous Kambole, Austin Muwowo any big player to choose to go Mufulira Wanderers.

What will they be going to do?

FAILURE TO GET TO THE TODAY STANDARD

There has always been a question from soccer followers over the two teams sponsored by Mopani on how Nkana is managing while Mufulira Wanderers just seem to the none appreciated child of Mopani.

The reason is simple, the team has remained in the ZCCM mentality were everything was provided by the sponsor and the executive was charged to just see the smooth running of the team. Its sad that the status quo has continued and this is now showing the difference between the viable Nkana.

The Executive have not yet mastered the jinx that they have to go out and give the new face to this team. Someone tell them its their task and not of Mopani.

THE 2015 HOPE

There was hope in 2015 when fans got together to help bring this team back to life and until today, I still think that was a serious vigorous campaign by fans to real act and raise a team from the shumbles. They returned to the Super League and we thought it was time of the olden days . Note that they were the smartly dressed team with NATSAVE coming on board. That was the role of the fans by the way.

The team Grouped a very talented team of young players which included Jacob Ngulube, Mike Katiba, Fumbani Muwowo, Taonga Bweembya, Allan Kamwanga Junior and Warren Kunda.

Today four years back , all that hard work put in by the fans has recieved serious backlash and even when fans can’t say it, they are one bunch of frustrated group who are slowly giving up and watching their favourite team sinking.

IS THERE HOPE

For now and years to come , it doesn’t look feasible that this team will be adding any silverware to their cabinet . They look well stuck to the 49 Cups they have added to the 9 league titles . They will fast be dislodged as second highest ranked team with league titles as ZESCO United and ZANACO look more capable of going second to Nkana in the order.

A lot has to change and modern running of the team rather than the sponsor waiting mentality will have to come in.

For now there is no Hope.

2019-2020/SEASON

Another tough season awaiting us with Mufulira Wanderers who may surprise us with their team after releasing a number of players . Unless this team has gone out of the country to get players , looks like its another season of struggle and fighting relegation.

Here is the line up of the most recent friendly against Lumwana Radiants which could give you an indication of the players we are expected to see when the season kicks off:
Gregory Sanjase, Elisha Muroiwa, Joseph Chewe, Malama Chisopa, Nchimunya Munene, Misi Katende, Davies Kamanga, Robson Phiri, Kwame Attram, Tony Otieno and Mercy Duru.

From this starting line up
Nchimunya Munene, Malama Chisopa and Joseph Chewe are from old school. We maybe surprised.

Things dont just seem like working in the direction that a lot would have hoped for. We also hope we see the team in a better looking jersey this time around.

Otherwise the struggle is real.