By Mathews Kabamba
CHIPOLOPOLO midfielder Prince Mumba says he is looking to impress in his maiden season in Europe having been on the receiving end of criticism whenever he dons national team colours.
Last month, Mumba joined Croatian side NK Istra 1961on a season-long loan deal from Super League side Kabwe Warriors.
Since making his senior debut against Senegal in an international friendly last year, the former under โ 20 captain has been among the most heavily criticized players at the national team.
Mumba said in an interview from his new base that he uses criticism as motivation to even work harder because those who criticize want the best from him.
โI have had good games and bad games [at the national team], for me it is football. It is not every time that there will be bad games. No player prepares to have bad results or games.
โWhen it [criticism] comes my way I take it as a lesson I learn from it and it keeps me going. Football is a sport that I chose, receiving criticism does not shake me, it is there to push me so I understand, I get that positive advice and use it,โ Mumba said.
Mumba, 21 said the time is ripe for him to break into the European leagues but he will not relax because sustaining a stay in Europe requires hard work.
โI am coming to Europe for the first time, I know European football and African football is totally different, I have been with the national team for some time now, and I think that will give me a boost to gel in with the club well.
โIt will take focus and hard work, I need to adapt as soon as possible, I have no option I just have to as quickly as I can, the team is in game two so I really need to work. I am ready for anything that comes my way,โ he said.
He said associating with Europe-based players at the national team has helped him have a feel of what to expect in Croatia.
โAssociating with most of the Europe-based players at the national team will help me to adapt as quickly as I can. I am not comfortable that I am in Europe, there is more to come all I need is to work, what will happen thereafter will follow,โ he said,
He thanked Warriors for allowing him to trek to Croatia.
Having shaped his skills at Solwezi Academy between 2011 and 2016, Mumba made a great leap to Super League football in 2017 when he joined Warriors.
That same year, he made it to the under-17 where Zambia won the COSAFA Championship before winning it again as an under-20 in 2019 where he was player of the tournament.
Mumbaโs new club are currently bottom of the log with no point in the Croatian top flight having lost their three opening games of the campaign.
Presented to supporters on Wednesday, Mumba may make his debut today when they face fourth-placed Osijek in a home tie.
