Former AmaZulu forward Augustine Mulenga says he was initially told his contract was going to be renewed by President Sandile Zungu and has made an appeal to the club.
Mulenga, 32, was a shock exit from Usuthu who confirmed 15 players have left that club while his representative confirmed to iDiski Times that he’s keen to remain in South Africa.
It appears that the achilles tendon rupture he suffered while in Zambia was the main reason behind his abrupt exit as he was considered one of the key figures in the squad.
And Mulenga admits he was blindsided by the decision when speaking to Andile Ncube about receiving his clearance from Usuthu last week.
“To be honest, the conversation we had with Mr. Zungu, the President, when I spoke to him, there was a time with us players we players had one on one meetings with him – he told me he wants to renew my contract, he still wants me, he wanted me to stay at AmaZulu and I said I’m happy and would love to continue my journey,” he said on Sports Night Amplified via Metro FM.
“He said he will talk to my manager and when my manager told me he’s received my clearance, I was shocked because I’m injured, it\s not because I’m bad and I thought how am I going to find another team while I’m injured. In my mind I knew the President said he was going to renew my contract, which is okay, he’s the owner but my concern is me, I’m injured.
“I’m just appealing to them to help me get back on my feet until I get back on to my feet, I have kids, family and people who depend on me, it’s going to be difficult for me and those people, I won’t have money to help them and their needs.”
Mulenga who netted eight goals and registered 13 assists in 48 games for the club after his arrival from Orlando Pirates in October 2020 went on to question why he was treated that way and explained how his life has been affected immediately after losing his source of income.
“Since I came back from Zambia, I remember when I communicated with our physio that side, he was like no, you are in Zambia, you have to do it by yourself. And I was like how? I got injured on duty that side and Majoro left there from Durban and got injured in Joburg but how come to me you’re saying I have to do it by myself,” he added.
“Then I told my agent and I think he sent them a letter but he hasn’t explained to me the response he gave me. But now it’s like the struggles have started already, I’ve been paying with my own money to do physio this side [in Zambia].”
The Chipolopolo star is now likely to be sidelined for several months before being able to land a new club.
This makes sad reading I pray he recoveres and finds a team soon. He’s a good and disciplined player..
Zambia how many lessons are you going to learn from South Africa? Our players are being treated like rubbish, Mukuka Mulenga, Lazarus Kambole, Austin Muwowo, maybe Justin Shonga the list goes on and now Augustine Mulenga. When the player is extraordinary they swim in praises but when the player need help they are trash/refuse. Further, all great players when they trek to South Africa they make sure the player is degraded and finished. Please Agents stop taking our players to South Africa can’t you see the trend.
@Truth
Unfortunately agents are greedy
Better to take players to a Tanzania league whereby he package is probably same as in South Africa but respect is high.
Augustine is a disciplined highly skillful energetic player. It makes very sad reading that he gets to be treated this way. Is there a fund to take care of needs like these under FAZ. It will be important to have an arrangement to handle the basics at least for our players
Come back home. We have better teams here