Mufulira Wanderers
Encyclopedia
Mufulira Wanderers are Zambia’s most successful football club and are based in the Copperbelt town of Mufulira
. Popularly known as Mighty Mufulira Wanderers, the club has won over 40 major trophies and has also produced some of the country’s greatest players. Wanderers are currently playing in the 2nd tier of Zambian league football.
, arguably Wanderers’ best ever player and Zambia’s greatest forward of the ‘60s joined the team from Kankoyo Mine School and started out in the 3rd team.
Three years later, Ndhlovu, George Sikazwe, Pennius Chirwa and Harwood Chimaliro were co-opted into the welfare section of mine community development as club organizers and by the following year, Ndhlovu, Sikazwe and Pennius Chirwa had made it into the first team.
In April 1962, Wanderers' home ground Shinde Stadium was opened and goalkeeper Tolomeo Mwansa joined the team. In the same year the name changed to Mufulira Wanderers. After missing out on the inaugural National Football League championship of 1962, Wanderers won the title the following year and this signalled the beginning of their dominance on the Zambian soccer scene.
From 1962, Northern Rhodesia (Zambia) & Southern Rhodesia (Zimbabwe) would compete for the Inter-Rhodesia Castle Cup which saw the Castle Cup champions of each country fighting for the super cup. In 1965, it was decided to do away with the trophy by having one last final, and that the winners of the trophy, which had always been won by Zimbabwean clubs, would keep the trophy for good. Wanderers had won the right to compete in this final by winning the local Castle Cup against City of Lusaka 5-2. The final turned out to be one of the most memorable matches in Zambian football history as the Mighty men eclipsed City Wanderers before a crowd of 18,000 on 17 October 1965 at Glamis Stadium in Salisbury to win the trophy 4-3 with goals from Ndhlovu, Willie Kunda and two goals from Elijah Mwale.
Wanderers were the dominant team in Zambian football in the 60’s and won the League a record 5 times, including 3 in a row from 1965-67. Ndhlovu thrilled fans everywhere Wanderers played with his dribbling skills and superb passing. His prowess was recognized when he became the first footballer to win the Zambian Sportsman of the Year award in 1964 and there was a benefit match between Wanderers and Kitwe Sports to mark his 10 years in professional football in 1966.
The team also won several more cups and lifted Zambia’s inaugural Charity Shield trophy in 1967. Their achievements overshadowed the efforts of cross-town rivals Mufulira Blackpool.
In September 1969, striker Robertson Zulu set a club record by scoring 9 goals when Wanderers beat Kabwe United 14-1 in a Heinrich Cup tie.
The emergence of Kabwe Warriors with Godfrey Chitalu
in red-hot form meant Wanderers faced stiff competition in the league. The Kabwe team won the league 3 times in a row as did Green Buffaloes so Wanderers had to wait until 1976 for their first title of the ‘70s. By this time, Ndhlovu had retired and striker Thomas Bwalya emerged as a key player who placed 5th during the voting for African Footballer of the Year in 1977, won by Tunisia’s Dhiab Tarek.
When the Mighty men won the league in 1978, it would be their last league triumph for almost 20 years.
Wanderers made history by becoming the first Zambian club to make it to the semi-finals of the Africa Club Champions Cup by beating Moulodia of Algeria 3-2 on aggregate in September of 1977. Though they lost the semi-final to Hearts of Oak of Ghana, Wanderers repeated the feat the following year but this time in the Africa Cup Winners Cup where they lost to MAHD of Algeria.
In the early 80s, Shinde Stadium was closed for renovations so Wanderers used Central Sports Ground for their home matches for the 1981 and 1982 seasons.
In the mid-80s, players such as Ashious Melu
, Kalusha Bwalya
, Efford Chabala, Charles Musonda
and Johnson Bwalya
featured for Wanderers and when Chabala just missed out on the Footballer of the year award to Kabwe Warriors’ Jack Chanda in 1985, it prevented what would have been a 5 year clean sweep after wins by Melu (1983), Kalusha Bwalya (1984), Johnson Bwalya (1986) and Melu again in 1987.
In 1989, Melu signed up with Greek club Olympiakos for $100,000 which is still the record fee received by Wanderers for a player transfer and when Allan Kamwanga served as Zambian captain in 1998, it meant no less than 6 Wanderers players had captained the country – Ndhlovu, Makwaza, Ackim Musenge, Melu, Chabala and Kamwanga .
When Melu’s European career ended in 1992, he returned to Wanderers as part of the coaching bench and was in charge when their league title drought ended with back to back titles in 1995-96. The following year, Wanderers retained the Challenge Cup and this turned out to be their last trophy to date.
In 2004, Wanderers finished 2nd in Division I and won promotion back to the top league but administration problems persisted and they made a swift return to the second tier where they are still struggling to get back to the Premier League. Former international defender Allan Kamwanga is the coach trying to guide the team back to the top league.
Kalusha Bwalya
Mufulira
Mufulira is a town in the Copperbelt Province of Zambia. It grew up in the 1930s around the site of the Mufulira Copper Mine on its north-western edge...
. Popularly known as Mighty Mufulira Wanderers, the club has won over 40 major trophies and has also produced some of the country’s greatest players. Wanderers are currently playing in the 2nd tier of Zambian league football.
Early years 1953–1969
Mufulira Wanderers Football Club was formed in 1953 as Mufulira Mine Team with Jim Crow as coach and Mutende ground as their home. In 1956, Samuel NdhlovuSamuel Ndhlovu
Samuel "Zoom" Ndhlovu was a Zambian footballer and coach. He played for the Mufulira Wanderers, and coached the Zambian national team three times.-Playing career:Ndhlovu was born in Mufulira in 1937...
, arguably Wanderers’ best ever player and Zambia’s greatest forward of the ‘60s joined the team from Kankoyo Mine School and started out in the 3rd team.
Three years later, Ndhlovu, George Sikazwe, Pennius Chirwa and Harwood Chimaliro were co-opted into the welfare section of mine community development as club organizers and by the following year, Ndhlovu, Sikazwe and Pennius Chirwa had made it into the first team.
In April 1962, Wanderers' home ground Shinde Stadium was opened and goalkeeper Tolomeo Mwansa joined the team. In the same year the name changed to Mufulira Wanderers. After missing out on the inaugural National Football League championship of 1962, Wanderers won the title the following year and this signalled the beginning of their dominance on the Zambian soccer scene.
From 1962, Northern Rhodesia (Zambia) & Southern Rhodesia (Zimbabwe) would compete for the Inter-Rhodesia Castle Cup which saw the Castle Cup champions of each country fighting for the super cup. In 1965, it was decided to do away with the trophy by having one last final, and that the winners of the trophy, which had always been won by Zimbabwean clubs, would keep the trophy for good. Wanderers had won the right to compete in this final by winning the local Castle Cup against City of Lusaka 5-2. The final turned out to be one of the most memorable matches in Zambian football history as the Mighty men eclipsed City Wanderers before a crowd of 18,000 on 17 October 1965 at Glamis Stadium in Salisbury to win the trophy 4-3 with goals from Ndhlovu, Willie Kunda and two goals from Elijah Mwale.
Wanderers were the dominant team in Zambian football in the 60’s and won the League a record 5 times, including 3 in a row from 1965-67. Ndhlovu thrilled fans everywhere Wanderers played with his dribbling skills and superb passing. His prowess was recognized when he became the first footballer to win the Zambian Sportsman of the Year award in 1964 and there was a benefit match between Wanderers and Kitwe Sports to mark his 10 years in professional football in 1966.
The team also won several more cups and lifted Zambia’s inaugural Charity Shield trophy in 1967. Their achievements overshadowed the efforts of cross-town rivals Mufulira Blackpool.
In September 1969, striker Robertson Zulu set a club record by scoring 9 goals when Wanderers beat Kabwe United 14-1 in a Heinrich Cup tie.
1970s
Wanderers dominance continued into the 70s with Ndhlovu still dazzling opposing defenders and Zambian national team captain Dickson Makwaza manning the defence. The team had a ‘never-say –die- attitude’ and developed a habit of scoring late goals and winning matches often from a losing position. Thus the phrase ‘Mighty awina ichungulo’ (bemba meaning ‘Mighty wins in the dying minutes) was coined. The team also had the distinction of featuring 3 brothers from the Nkole family in the same team – Abraham (who was a goalkeeper but also played as a striker), and defenders Edward and Patrick.The emergence of Kabwe Warriors with Godfrey Chitalu
Godfrey Chitalu
Godfrey Chitalu was a Zambian footballer who is regarded as the greatest Zambian player ever and is also believed to hold the national team goal-scoring record...
in red-hot form meant Wanderers faced stiff competition in the league. The Kabwe team won the league 3 times in a row as did Green Buffaloes so Wanderers had to wait until 1976 for their first title of the ‘70s. By this time, Ndhlovu had retired and striker Thomas Bwalya emerged as a key player who placed 5th during the voting for African Footballer of the Year in 1977, won by Tunisia’s Dhiab Tarek.
When the Mighty men won the league in 1978, it would be their last league triumph for almost 20 years.
Wanderers made history by becoming the first Zambian club to make it to the semi-finals of the Africa Club Champions Cup by beating Moulodia of Algeria 3-2 on aggregate in September of 1977. Though they lost the semi-final to Hearts of Oak of Ghana, Wanderers repeated the feat the following year but this time in the Africa Cup Winners Cup where they lost to MAHD of Algeria.
1980–1999
After winning the league title in 1978, Wanderers experienced several near-misses for the next 15 years, and their record of 7 league titles was surpassed by rivals Nkana FC who set a new record of 11 league championships. They however continued to dominate cup competitions, earning the tag of Zambia’s most ‘winningest team’, and became known as the ‘legendary cup fighters.’In the early 80s, Shinde Stadium was closed for renovations so Wanderers used Central Sports Ground for their home matches for the 1981 and 1982 seasons.
In the mid-80s, players such as Ashious Melu
Ashious Melu
Ashious Jordan Melu also known as Ashios or Ashols Melu was a Zambian footballer and coach who captained the national team from 1988 to 1992 and is credited with having one of the hardest shots in Zambian football.-Playing career:Melu was born in Chililabombwe on June 6, 1957 and attended...
, Kalusha Bwalya
Kalusha Bwalya
Kalusha Bwalya , known as simply Kalusha, is a Zambian footballer and coach. He is Zambia's most capped player, all-time top goalscorer, and is regarded as the greatest Zambian player to play the game...
, Efford Chabala, Charles Musonda
Charly Musonda
Charles Musonda , also known as Charly Musonda is a former Zambian professional football player. At his peak, he played as a midfielder for Belgian Champions Anderlecht.-Career:...
and Johnson Bwalya
Johnson Bwalya
Johnson Bwalya is a Zambian former footballer. He played for the Zambian national team and represented the country at the Olympics.-Domestic career:...
featured for Wanderers and when Chabala just missed out on the Footballer of the year award to Kabwe Warriors’ Jack Chanda in 1985, it prevented what would have been a 5 year clean sweep after wins by Melu (1983), Kalusha Bwalya (1984), Johnson Bwalya (1986) and Melu again in 1987.
In 1989, Melu signed up with Greek club Olympiakos for $100,000 which is still the record fee received by Wanderers for a player transfer and when Allan Kamwanga served as Zambian captain in 1998, it meant no less than 6 Wanderers players had captained the country – Ndhlovu, Makwaza, Ackim Musenge, Melu, Chabala and Kamwanga .
When Melu’s European career ended in 1992, he returned to Wanderers as part of the coaching bench and was in charge when their league title drought ended with back to back titles in 1995-96. The following year, Wanderers retained the Challenge Cup and this turned out to be their last trophy to date.
Relegation
The end of 90s saw a change in Wanderers’ fortunes. The changing economic horizon saw Mufulira Mine taken over in a wholesale privatisation exercise and the new owners did not place recreation activities at the top of their priority list. Furthermore, conflicts within the club’s executive did not help matters. In 2001, the unthinkable happened; reduced funding meant Wanderers were no longer able to compete against their rivals and poor performance in the league culminated in their relegation to Division I when they finished 4th from the bottom. By a stroke of good fortune, Railway Express, a team which ended the season above them disbanded and Wanderers retained their premier league status though there was an uproar from several quarters, not least from the teams which were next in line for promotion from the 1st division. However, the decision stood and Wanderers continued in the Premier League in 2002 though they found themselves in the same situation at the end of the season. Needing a win in their final game of the season against Nkwazi FC at Shinde on November 16, 2002, Wanderers could only manage a goalless draw and were relegated causing untold anguish among their fans. Reports went round of Wanderers trying to avoid relegation by pushing for an increase in the number of teams but lightning could not strike twice as the behind-the-scene manoeuvres came to nought and Wanderers found themselves playing Division I football the following season.In 2004, Wanderers finished 2nd in Division I and won promotion back to the top league but administration problems persisted and they made a swift return to the second tier where they are still struggling to get back to the Premier League. Former international defender Allan Kamwanga is the coach trying to guide the team back to the top league.
Honours
- Zambian League ChampionshipZambian Premier LeagueThe Zambian Premier League, also known as Konkola Copper Mines Premier League due to sponsorship reasons, is the top division of the Football Association of Zambia, and was created in 1962.-Member clubs 2011:*Forest Rangers...
: 9
-
- 1963, 1965, 1966, 1967, 1969, 1976, 1978, 1995, 1996
- Zambian CupZambian CupThe Zambia Cup or Mosi Cup is the top knockout tournament of the Zambian football. It was created in 1962.From 1962 to 1965 the winners of the Northern Rhodesia Castle Cup played against the corresponding winners in Southern Rhodesia for the 'Super Castle Cup'.The winners of this trophy did not...
: 9
-
- 1965, 1966, 1968, 1971, 1973, 1974, 1975, 1988, 1995
- Zambian Challenge CupZambian Challenge CupThe Zambia Challenge Cup or BP Top Eight Cup is a knockout tournament of the Zambian football. It was created in 1962 and it is contested by the top 8 teams of the league....
: 9
-
- 1967, 1968, 1969, 1978, 1984, 1986, 1994, 1996, 1997
- Heinrich Cup/Chibuku Cup/Heroes and Unity Cup: 8
-
- 1964, 1965, 1968, 1976, 1985, 1987, 1988, 1991
- Champion of Champions Cup: 7
-
- 1974, 1976, 1977, 1978, 1985, 1988, 1992
- Inter-Rhodesia Castle Cup: 1
-
- 1965
Notable former players
Johnson BwalyaJohnson Bwalya
Johnson Bwalya is a Zambian former footballer. He played for the Zambian national team and represented the country at the Olympics.-Domestic career:...
Kalusha Bwalya
Kalusha Bwalya
Kalusha Bwalya , known as simply Kalusha, is a Zambian footballer and coach. He is Zambia's most capped player, all-time top goalscorer, and is regarded as the greatest Zambian player to play the game...
- Thomas Bwalya Efford Chabala
- Dick Chama
- Bernard Chanda Harrison ChongoHarrison ChongoHarrison "Wawa" Chongo was a Zambia international football player who played in central defence or as a defensive midfielder.-Career:...
- Frederick Kashimoto
- Evans Katebe
- Philemon Kaunda
- Dickson Makwaza
- Gibby Mbasela Ashious MeluAshious MeluAshious Jordan Melu also known as Ashios or Ashols Melu was a Zambian footballer and coach who captained the national team from 1988 to 1992 and is credited with having one of the hardest shots in Zambian football.-Playing career:Melu was born in Chililabombwe on June 6, 1957 and attended...
- Willie Mukwasa
- Philemon Mulala
- Emmanuel Munaile
- Ackim Musenge Charly MusondaCharly MusondaCharles Musonda , also known as Charly Musonda is a former Zambian professional football player. At his peak, he played as a midfielder for Belgian Champions Anderlecht.-Career:...
- Elijah Mwale
- Tolomeo Mwansa
- Tshikala Mwanza Samuel NdhlovuSamuel NdhlovuSamuel "Zoom" Ndhlovu was a Zambian footballer and coach. He played for the Mufulira Wanderers, and coached the Zambian national team three times.-Playing career:Ndhlovu was born in Mufulira in 1937...
- Abraham Nkole
- George Sikazwe