Zambia is flooded with alot of great young talents with increadible abilities. Soka25east.com caught up with one of those youngsters, 18 year old Salifyanji “Diesel” Mugala .
Soka25east.com: welcome to this interview diesel .
SM: Thank very much
Soka25east.com: how did you start your football?
SM: Well I started playing football at an amateur club called Germistion city Fc when I was 7 years old playing for their under 9 team. It all started when I was hearing some noise because we live near the stadium so one day I decided to go check what was happening then I found out that the were people playing soccer with different age groups so I approached the coach and asked him if I could be part of the team and he said you can start coming for training that’s how I started my football career.
Soka25east.com: You are now in SouthAfrica how did you get their?
SM: Well I played under 9 and got promoted to under 10 and I was 8 years old and was top goal scorer, I scored 49 goals in one season and I was player of the year, then we progressed to under 12 I was captain for the team and I scored 35 goals well I got scouted at a sports school called Rosina sedibane in pretoria. I learnt alot of things and gained a bit of experience and then I got injured and I had to leave the sports school until i had fully recovered but I could not go back due to school issues so i joined Black aces academy under 15, played there for a year and moved to jomo Cosmos under 17 and got promoted to Under 19 and then started training with the 1st team but I still play under U19.
Soka25east.com: Do you have a team you admire and would like to one day play for?
SM: Well i would love to play for Manchester United or Barcelona or one of the big clubs in Europe.
Soka25east.com: Do you ever dream about playing for Chipolopolo at any level?
SM: Yes i do. It would be a honor for me to play for my country and by the grace of God am working towards my goal
Soka25east.com : Being an U20 player i reckon you followed the COSAFA U20 Championship?, how can you decribe it?
SM: Yes I did sir it was very interesting the goals the determination the hunger the players were showing 100% commitment.
Soka25east.com: Zambia emerged as champions obviously how do you rate their performance?
SM: The did very well sir but should have scored more goals in the final.
Soka25east.com: Who or what motivates you?
SM : My late grandfather(Godfrey chitalu) I would love to do even more on what he did!
Soka25east.com: Among the numerous coaches that you worked who has had the biggest impact on you?
SM: All of them but most especially Coach Davies Phiri and coach Jacob Sakala
SM : Bursts into laughter Diesel , my friends and coach started calling me Diesel because I am very quick and super fast If an opponent gives me space am gone and they won’t catch me.
Soka25east.com: Being a grand son of the Great Ucar Chitalu, doest that put pressure on you?
SM: It does sometimes
Soka25east.com: how do you deal with it?
SM : Well I mediate on the word everyday so that reduces the pressure on the game and helps me focus and be a better player
Soka25east.com: Diesel thank for your time all the best in your career.
SM: Thank very much .
