Administrators, upwizcampeditors
0
edits
Freddie Mwila: Difference between revisions
From Chalo Chatu, Zambia online encyclopedia
→Playing career
| Line 102: | Line 102: | ||
Mwila qualified for secondary education and went to Luanshimba School in 1964, and while a student there, he frequented Scrivener Stadium and trained regularly in the company of Edward Kalale, Lazarus Musumali, Eric Chekoloko, Isaac Musakanya and Simon Chande, players that coach White had brought in to rejuvenate the team. He also struck up a very good partnership with Henry Kalimukwa and developed into a creative midfielder who could pass and score goals. The left-footed Mwila worked hard in the reserve side and made it into the first team in 1965. | Mwila qualified for secondary education and went to Luanshimba School in 1964, and while a student there, he frequented Scrivener Stadium and trained regularly in the company of Edward Kalale, Lazarus Musumali, Eric Chekoloko, Isaac Musakanya and Simon Chande, players that coach White had brought in to rejuvenate the team. He also struck up a very good partnership with Henry Kalimukwa and developed into a creative midfielder who could pass and score goals. The left-footed Mwila worked hard in the reserve side and made it into the first team in 1965. | ||
That same year, Mwila left school to join Rothmans of Pall mall as a trainee salesman and in 1966, the company organised a course in salesmanship at | That same year, Mwila left school to join Rothmans of Pall mall as a trainee salesman and in 1966, the company organised a course in salesmanship at Nairobi's New Era College for six months. While there he played for the Abaluya F.C. and he read in the papers that four Zambians [[Howard Mwikuta]], [[Emment Kapengwe]], [[Samuel Ndhlovu|Samuel "Zoom" Ndhlovu]] and Mwila himself had been picked by British coach [[Phil Woosnam]] to go and play in the professional league in America, with the Atlanta Chiefs. | ||
Mwila came back to Zambia in January 1967 to prepare for the journey to the US. Mwila, Kapengwe and Mwikuta left Zambia for America on 23 February 1967 where they underwent a two-month trial and were signed. | Mwila came back to Zambia in January 1967 to prepare for the journey to the US. Mwila, Kapengwe and Mwikuta left Zambia for America on 23 February 1967 where they underwent a two-month trial and were signed. | ||
Mwila returned to Zambia at the end of the season in October 1967, and returned to Atlanta for the 1968 season and won the league. He also played against several European sides, among them, | Mwila returned to Zambia at the end of the season in October 1967, and returned to Atlanta for the 1968 season and won the league. He also played against several European sides, among them, Manchester City and Aston Villa. On 27 May 1968 the 21-year-old Mwila scored the winning goal in a stunning 3–2 upset of the English champions City. He scored twice on the night, before a crowd of 23,141, the largest ever to witness a soccer game in Atlanta Stadium. | ||
It sounded like sour grapes when City coach [[Malcolm Allison]] described Chief's play as worse than 'fourth division standard,' and that Mwila was offside. "They couldn't play in the fourth division in England," he said. "The kid who kicked the last goal was offside by at least four yards. The officials just didn't catch it. There's nothing you can do about it.<ref>""Chiefs stun Manchester" North American Soccer League-Atlanta Chiefs Friendlies http://www.nasljerseys.com/Friendlies/Teams/Chiefs%20Friendlies.htm (date accessed 23 November 2012)</ref> | It sounded like sour grapes when City coach [[Malcolm Allison]] described Chief's play as worse than 'fourth division standard,' and that Mwila was offside. "They couldn't play in the fourth division in England," he said. "The kid who kicked the last goal was offside by at least four yards. The officials just didn't catch it. There's nothing you can do about it.<ref>""Chiefs stun Manchester" North American Soccer League-Atlanta Chiefs Friendlies http://www.nasljerseys.com/Friendlies/Teams/Chiefs%20Friendlies.htm (date accessed 23 November 2012)</ref> | ||
Three weeks later, Chiefs handed City their second straight whipping before an even bigger crowd of 25,856 and Mwila was on target again but this time from the penalty spot in a 2–1 win and Motaung grabbed the other as if to prove that Chiefs were good enough to play against the best and win.<ref>"Manchester City beaten" North American Soccer League-Atlanta Chiefs Friendlies http://www.nasljerseys.com/Friendlies/Teams/Chiefs%20Friendlies.htm (date accessed 23 November 2012)</ref> The Zambians also played in a friendly match played against Brazilian side | Three weeks later, Chiefs handed City their second straight whipping before an even bigger crowd of 25,856 and Mwila was on target again but this time from the penalty spot in a 2–1 win and Motaung grabbed the other as if to prove that Chiefs were good enough to play against the best and win.<ref>"Manchester City beaten" North American Soccer League-Atlanta Chiefs Friendlies http://www.nasljerseys.com/Friendlies/Teams/Chiefs%20Friendlies.htm (date accessed 23 November 2012)</ref> The Zambians also played in a friendly match played against Brazilian side Santos FC which featured Pelé. | ||
[[File:Freddie Mwila with Pele in August 1968.jpg|thumb|left|Freddie Mwila with Pelé in August 1968]] | [[File:Freddie Mwila with Pele in August 1968.jpg|thumb|left|Freddie Mwila with Pelé in August 1968]] | ||
