Mayuka opens up about his time at Southampton… Talks 2012 AFCON memories and hopes of returning to Europe

2012 AFCON winner Emmanuel Mayuka has opened up about his time in the English Premier League.

Mayuka had an unsuccessful stint with Southampton between 2012 and 2014 and made 16 appearances for the Saints.

He is, however, Confident that his journey which he describes as successful so far is far from being over.

“I can say it’s been successful because football comes with ups and downs challenges and injuries here and there but all in all its been successful. The most Cardinal thing in football is being disciplined,” Mayuka told Kennedy Gondwe in an interview.

I am not too sure, I started enjoying playing football there. I think I missed the time to adapt to the English Premier League but it’s not easy especially when there is a lot of pressure.

” Yes I was ready but I never really adapted to the English Premier League. We don’t really have a lot of exposure,” he added.

The 29-year-oold forward is hopeful that he still can make a return to Europe.

“I believe it’s not the end I am still active with Napsa Stars and hoping again I will be going back to Europe very soon,” he said.

It hurts a lot (to see his former teammates like Wanyama playing at the top) because I know even myself I can easily do that,” he added.

His wife Gladys is very sure his husband, Mayuka will be out of Zambia by the end of this year and back in Europe.

” Yes I do, I actually know before the year ends we leaving Napsa Stars. We go back to Europe, Am confident we will go back to the Premier League,” she told Kennedy Gondwe.

Gladys who is a wealth consultant and works for an Insurance Company went on to dispel rumors that had rocked social media in the recent past that Mayuka had become broke following the seculation of unflattering pictures of him.

Mayuka is planning on opening a football academy, a community school and a foundation as a way of giving back to the country.

“We have the money yes he has invested well because I am a wealth consultant,” She said.

“We actually plan to open the Emmanuel Mayuka Foundation, a community school, and an Academy. We want to have even Psychologists to help the players adapt to different situations.”

Mayuka was key to the Zambia national team side that won the 2012 AFCON and says he has fond memories of the triumph in Gabon.

“I have a lot of memories from that time and I would like to go back to that time because we were like the chosen team. It will always stay with me.”

Mayuka started making a name for himself at Kabwe Warriors as a young striker through his goal-scoring prowess. His Killer instinct was something any striker that knew him at the time most probably envied.

He started making steady progress and soon he was off to Israel joining Maccabi Tel Aviv; He was there from 2008-2010 before making a move to Young Boys of Switzerland which was the time he was at his peak 2010-2012.

He was a very lethal at this time and helped Zambia win it’s only AFCON title at the 2012 tournament held in Equatorial Guinea/ Gabon.

He was spotted by Southhampton and made his big move to the English premier league under coach Nigel Adkins. Mayuka made a number of appearances mostly from the bench and most notable against Manchester United but failed to impress new manager Mauricio Pochetino and just barely a year into his contract, He was sent to Sochaux on loan (2013-14), in the French league 1 under former Chipolopolo coach Herve Renard.

He failed to cement a place in the team and was finally sold in 2015 to a French lower-tier side FC Metz where he also failed to establish himself and ended up in Egypt a year later before finally returning home.

WATCH THE FULL INTERVIEW HERE: Mayuka interview with Kennedy Gondwe