Last season, a ray of hope shone in the midst of a very challenging period for Napsa Stars.
A fiery 20-year-old Jimmy Mukeya waltzed through that campaign producing some powerful performances as Napsa headed for relegation in a season of antithesis for the Lusaka club.
Mukeya first made headlines as a 2020 COSAFA U20 winner on home soil for Zambia in a tournament where he scored 2 goals.
But 2020/2021 proved to be his breakout season with Napsa en route to relegation when he scored 8 league goals.
Mukeya was also influential in Napsa’s debut continental group stage campaign despite scoring just one goal when the side became the first Zambian club to qualify on the first attempt in the 2020/2021 CAF Confederation Cup.
His exploits last season earned him a senior call-up last August in Beston Chambehi’s forgettable FIFA World Cup group stage qualifying campaign.
Mukeya went on to show flashes of potential as a late sub for Chipolopolo in the 2-0 home loss to Tunisia despite being a peripheral figure in the qualifiers.
Meanwhile, Napsa are flying high in the promotion race and rarely leaving the top two of the top four promotion bracket and have even qualified for the 2022 ABSA Cup.
But it has been a difficult season for Mukeya both on and off the pitch.
On it, he has sparingly been a starting XI and scored just a goal to date in the FAZ National Division One.
Away from the pitch, it has been an emotionally difficult time for Mukeya personally after losing both his parents; first his mother last March and then his father in December.
Time and again teams and the media have been attacked by the public for not managing or giving guidance to young assets like Mukeya when they suddenly drop off the radar.
And so as Chipolopolo heads back to the office after a four month lull, under new management of Aljosa Asanovic, it will be worthy of the Croat to do some stocktaking on the not-so forgotten prospect labouring down in the second tier.
It is not as a favour but an obligation to keep tabs on just how a new long-term national asset is performing.
When I look in the league, Chipolopolo has very few combative strikers with Mukeya’s technical attributes and the closest player I can think of is another young talent Joshua Mutale at Power Dynamos who has quietly scored three goals for his team so far this term.
An invitation for Mukeya for one of Asanovic’s customary get-together for assessment would be welcome.
If the player has his shortcomings, then the coach must advise Mukeya what he must work on back at Napsa to meet the Asanovic benchmarks.
And maybe, just maybe, a little bit of change of scene briefly may also just be the fresh air Mukeya may have been missing to reignite that spark in a tough season for the youngster.
WEEKEND SCORECARD
FAZ SUPER LEAGUE
WEEK 21
27/01/2022
Nkana 1(Alex Ngonga 67’pen)-Kabwe Warriors 0
28/01/2022
Zesco United 1(John Chingandu 70′)-Indeni 0
Forest Rangers 0-Power Dynamos 0
29/01/2022
Kafue Celtic 1(Albert Kangwanda 20′)-Buildcon 1
(Ronald Olaki 90′)
Kansanshi Dynamos 0-Chambishi 0
Prison Leopards 3(Francis Zulu 2′, Damiano Phiri 30′, Landu Miete 82’pen)-Lusaka Dynamos 1(Tardile Ilunga 6’pen)
Konkola Blades 1(Moses Menda 23′)-Zanaco 1(Emmanuel Mwiinde 9′)
Green Buffaloes 2(Godfrey Mashata 25′, George Ngoma 83′)-Red Arrows 3(George Simbayambaya 30′ 43′, Ricky Banda 62′)
Green Eagles 2(Hosea Silwimba 25′, Ernest Mbewe 45′)-Nkwazi 1(Christopher Zulu 87′)
WEEK 24
02/02/2022
Zanaco-Forest Rangers
TOP SCORERS
=LEAGUE
30/01/2022
Friday Samu (Green Buffaloes):14
Albert Kangwanda(Kafue Celtic):9
Alex Ngonga (Nkana):9
Moses Phiri (Zanaco):8
Jimmy Ndhlovu (Kabwe Warriors):8
Ricky Banda(Red Arrows):8
Hosea Silwimba (Green Eagles):7
Godfrey Ngwenya (Power Dynamos):7
Christopher Zulu(Nkwazi):6
Martin Njobvu (Green Buffaloes):6
John Chingandu (Zesco):5
Lubinda Mundia(Buildcon):5
Clifford Mulenga (Forest Rangers):5
Cephas Handavu(Indeni):5
James Chamanga (Red Arrows):5
Thomas Chideu (Forest Rangers):5
Conlyde Luchanga (Prison Leopards):5
Derrick Bulaya (Green Eagles):5
Junior Zulu (Prison Leopards):4
Tapson Kaseba (Buildcon/Konkola Blades 1):4
Kelvin Mubanga(Zesco):4
Jacob Kaunda(Chambishi):4
Brian Mwila(Buildcon/Power Dynamos):4
Warren Kunda(Green Eagles):3
Joseph Phiri (Red Arrows):3
Timothy Sakala (Buildcon):3
Alidor Kayembe (Arrows):3
Owen Tembo (Konkola Blades):3
Jacob Ngulube(Nkana):3
Joshua Mutale (Power Dynamos):3
Patrick Ngoma(Buildcon):3
Jesse Were(Zesco/Kansanshi 1):3
Emmanuel Chabula (Lusaka Dynamos):3
Edward Mwenya(Konkola Blades):3
Kilo Mwepu (Power Dynamos):3
Fred Mulambia (Power Dynamos):3
Marvin Jere (Lusaka Dynamos):3
Akakulubelwa Mwachiyaba (Kabwe Warriors):3
Ronald Kampamba (Nkana):3
Eric Chomba (Forest Rangers):3
Langson Mbewe (Nkwazi):3
Matthews Maleka (Kansanshi Dynamos):3
Stephen Mutama (Nkwazi):3
Quadri Kola(Forest Rangers):3
FAZ NATIONAL DIVISION 1
WEEK 21
29/01/2022
Young Buffaloes 2-2 Young Green Eagles
(Abeauty Simazuwo 70’, Allan Chirwa 85’/Eric Mwala 18’, Manya Maxwell 21’)
FC MUZA 4-0 Police College
(Mandra Muleya 14’, Andrew Phiri 36’, Kelvin Mwanza 42’, 70’)
Trident 1-0 Quattro Kalumbila
(Steven Nyirenda 38’)
ZESCO Malaiti Rangers 0-0 Gomes
Livingstone Pirates 0-0 Lumwana Radiants
Kitwe United 0-0 City of Lusaka
Luapula Green Eagles 0-0 NAPSA Stars
29/01/2022
Nchanga Rangers 1-1 Jumulo
(Patrick Faharani 63’/ Kabongo Kabongo 58’)
KYSA 0-1 Mufulira Wanderers
(Collins Makungu 80’)
