Quick Facts
LeoBiography
Clifford Mulenga (born August 5, 1987 in Kabompo) is a Zambian footballer who plays as a midfielder for Ajax Cape Town in the South African Premier Soccer League.
Career
Mulenga was part of the Zambian 2006 African Nations Cup team who finished third in group C in the first round of competition, thus failing to secure qualification for the quarter-finals.
Mulenga is known to be a quick and creative winger whose qualities have been praised as rare and akin to Zambian great Kalusha Bwalya. When playing for the Zambian u-20s he caught the eye of several European clubs most notably Spanish giants Real Madrid and PSV Eindhoven. His silky skills were demonstrated especially against the Nigerian u-20s at the African Youth Championships when his team lost in the semi-finals, a game which saw him give a man of the match performance only to be blighted by receiving a red card as a result of a petulant altercation with one of his opponents.
Prior to the 2008 Africa Cup of Nations a dispute arose as to which club Mulenga belonged to Pretoria University FC claimed he was on their books however he caused controversy with the Zambian press when the nation's football authority FAZ, announced he was to join Israeli side Maccabi Petach Tikva FC from Orgryte IS the Swedish side which acquired him on loan from his university in Pretoria.
The deal with Maccabi Petach Tikva FC fell through and he signed for Premier Soccer league team Bidvest Wits. In July 2009 he was trial by Maccabi Petach Tikva FC again but the club decided to not sign him. He consequently signed for the Mpumalanga Black Aces and has earned the nickname 'Master'. He has also played for Bloemfontein Celtic and SuperSport United.
Mulenga joined Mpumalanga Black Aces in September 2013 on a 3-year contract. In August 2014, he signs a contract with Ajax Cape Town for one season.
Honours
National Team
Zambia
- Africa Cup of Nations: 2012
Individual
On 2 February 2008 Mulenga was named The 2007 Glo-CAF Young Player of the Year beating off competition from Congo Brazzaville’s Franchel Ibara and Nigeria’s Oseni Gani both of whom have been touted as future African stars.
