Ex-Chipolopolo striker Emmanuel Mayuka says has no regrets about his brief stint at Southampton despite a modest three years at the English club.
Mayuka joined Southampton in 2012 following a successful four years at Swiss club Young Boys but the transfer was critically enhanced after propelling Chipolopolo to the 2012 AFCON title with his three goals.
“Yes, I was prepared and I believe everything happens with time and I felt that it was my time but never really adapted to the English game,” Mayuka told Kennedy Gondwe’s YouTube channel Studio Ken.
“Personally, like I said before, you have ups and downs in football; it hurts, I know that I could easily do it, it is just a burnt curve.”
Mayuka, who is recently signed with FAZ Super Division side Napsa Stars after a decade in Europe, added that it is difficult to say why is potential in England was never fulfilled.
He made sixteen league appearances without any goals and three in domestic cup action scoring one goal that he punctuated with a loan stint at French club Sochaux in 2013 where he enjoyed relative success in the season scoring five goals.
“I am not too sure really because there was time I really started enjoying playing football there,” Mayuka said.
“I also went on loan to France on loan and came back but also missed that time to adopt to the English game which is most important but is not easy especially when the pressure is high more or less when the team needs points, it becomes more difficult,” Mayuka said.
Mayuka added that more needed to be done to profile the Zambian football brand.
“It is not that players are a problem or as a country we have a problem. Sometimes it is just exposure as a country and we did not have exposure a few years ago when we didn’t have a lot of players but I believe it is just a matter of time that we will be recognized worldwide,” Mayuka said.
but the transfer was critically enhanced after propelling Chipolopolo to the 2012 AFCON title with his three goals.
What’s the meaning of the sentence?
This boy looked overweight at Saints even for supersub…its a bit too late especially that he was drinking too much was surprised when I saw in a bar in Lusaka.
Mayuka should hv asked for a loan move even to a low level club in nxt tier of English football. Today we could hv been talking about a Zambian super star. Instead it was not to be. This is sad, very sad.
You were on the brink of success Biti kabotolo was your nemesis
Ka botolo Nika bwino nikoyipa as a sportsman you decide
You failed us mate, we had Faith in you to break in the premier ship as first Zambian maybe my 11 years old will do better
Zambian footballers fail to tick in
Premier league.They are not hard and
Tough like north and west Africans.
They don’t last full ninety minutes.
We are good at blaming other elements. When you signed up with the Saints, I was buzzing. Later on my friends were asking, where is your country man??? Injuries didn’t help either. Lessons learnt, we move on. You are an example to the youngsters coming up. In turn, you could still help put the country on the world map. Wish you all the best in your future endeavours.
Just go back to your childhood club kabwe warriors as assistant coach.
Namupwaafye yaama. Just start farming. It’s never too late
Yáll Zambians lack a killer instinct no wonder you even have a lukewarm chap for a president. Mayuka you had the skill but lacked the killer instinct that west Africans possess. You burn the ship behind you bro, all or nothing, succeed or die trying that is the mentality you need at a high tier club like saints.