The Zambia Super League keeps bringing out top performers year in year out. Last year Zesco United star forward Lazarus Kambole took the African football scene by storm and became one of the most talked about and most wanted striker on the continent.
This season is a short one and has just reached halfway but Forest Rangers midfielder Austin Muwowo is proving to be a real gem; Someone of rare quality and brilliance. He can score, assist, create chances, dangerous on set pieces and dribble past defenders which makes him a dangerous opponent to face but a key asset for Forest Rangers.
When Forest Rangers dismantled Power Dynamos on Monday, 18th March by scoring four goals in 19 minutes, the left footed midfield genius scored a brace and set up the other two goals.
After the match his coach Perry Mutapa heaped praise on him and claimed that he was the best player in the country at the moment.
” We are always working with players. I think at the moment the best player in Zambia is Muwowo (Austin), We have Muzaza, Zikiru holding the ball well, Laurent Muma; We have a very good strike-force,” Mutapa told the ZamFoot Crew in an interview.
Whether he is the best player in the league at the moment or not is subject to debate among the fans and local league experts and other people alike. However like the saying goes men lie, Women lie but numbers don’t lie, Austin Muwowo’s statistics have been impressive so far.
MOVE TO NKANA
He started playing football at an early age but it was at Malalo Academy that he mastered his art under the tutelage of coach Kebby Shampongo while attending Chililabombwe High School, juggling school and football.
Muwowo however first came to the super league in 2012 with Konkola Mine Police who acquired his services from Malalo. But it was not until the 2014 season that he really began to gather attention from clubs, fans and other people alike. He managed to score three goals and made a number of assists but unfortunately Konkola Mine Police’s three year stay in the Super League came to an end as they finished the season with only 29 points and were relegated to the lower division.
Austin Muwowo did not however follow suit as Kitwe giants Nkana came calling and he together with his team mates Ronald Chibwe and Chanda Mushili made their switch to Wusakile.
Austin Muwowo in Nkana colours
The talented midfielder spent three season at Nkana but struggled to really fit in and make his mark, or perhaps the technical bench did not have enough patience.
He was loaned out to Kitwe United at the end of the 2017 season were he spent the first half of the 2018 season before moving to Forest Rangers.
In this current campaign he has managed to score five goals and set up eight in just seven games which means he has been involved in 13 (93 percent) out of the 14 goals his side has scored so far this season. Its not surprising because Fole Malembe have built their team around him.
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The Genius as he is called seems to be improving each season having been an influential member of both teams he played for last season – Kitwe United and Forest Rangers.
He started his campaign with Kitwe United where he netted three goals and made a number of assists before making his switch to Forest Rangers were he scored five goals and made some more assists.
During the off season period TP Mazembe traveled to Zambia for a pre-season camp as they prepared for their CAF Champions League campaign and faced a number of Zambian clubs. Forest Rangers was one of the teams they played and the Timber Boys are the only team that managed to beat DR Congo giants with Muwowo dribbling a defender, leaving him for dead before scoring the only goal of the game.
Just a reminder of what happened to a TP Mazembe defender before Austin ‘The Genius’ Muwowo scored the only goal of the game as Fole Malembe beat the DR Congo giants by a lone goal . pic.twitter.com/mSLqNK1XEY
— Aaron Mubanga Jnr (@Mubajnr) March 27, 2019
With the way he is developing only time will tell how far or how good he will get should he maintain his discipline and continue working hard.
The ZamFoot Crew also caught up with the Forest Rangers midfielder who had a few things to say concerning his career so far.
Z C: Good Morning Austin and welcome to this interview
A.M: Good Morning and Thank you very much.
ZC : How did you start your football?
A.M: Well I started playing seriously when I was at Chililabombwe High School at Malalo Academy.
ZC: Do you have a coach you regard as the best you have had so far?
A.M : Yes, The name of the coach is Kebby Shampongo and he’s been my coach since day one even now he still advises me.
ZC: What is your target this season ?
A.M: My target this season is to be the best player or top scorer in the league.
ZC: What has been your best year so far :
AM: I haven’t yet recorded my best year because this is just the beginning of everything.
ZC: Do you have ambitions of playing abroad ?
AM: Playing abroad is my dream, playing football at the highest level. For instance playing for a European top team.
ZC: Do you have a favourite Player or Role Model ?
AM: At first my favorite player was Ronaldinho then came Messi and Neymar plus a bit of C. Ronaldo.
ZC: Thank you Austin for your time
A.M: No problem, My pleasure.
Key
ZC: ZamFoot crew
A.M: Austin Muwowo.