By Aaron Mubanga Jnr
Red Arrows midfielder George Mandu finally opened his Red Arrows/MTN Super League goal accounts on November 7th when he netted an equalizer against Power Dynamos in a 1-1 draw at Nkoloma Stadium.
Mandu who is nicknamed Iniesta joined the Airmen back in 2013 but only managed to find the back of the net a week ago.
The boy from Lusaka’s Kuku township rose through the ranks of youth football in the area playing for now defunct Toyas 90′ before joining Golden Milling.
Mandu then joined K- Stars, a team started by former FAZ President and 1988 African footballer of the year, Kalusha Bwalya before moving to Chelstone to join the Zambia Air-force sponsored outfit.
The ZamFoot Crew caught up with the diminutive midfielder to talk about his career and everything in between as he makes his strides at Nkoloma Stadium.
The 24 year old says the memory of his first Super League goal will stay with him forever as it is something he waited for many years to finally happen.
“My football journey I can say it has been a learning process cause have been in all situations good and bad but God has been with me so I have been able to keep my head down and manage to get through it,” he added.
I would like to thank God for opening my scoring account. It was something that I was waiting for, for so many years I felt very happy to score for my team it was something that will stay with me for rest of my life
Mandu tells ZamFoot
Mandu says he has enjoyed his time working under coach Chisi Mbewe who he says is a good leader.
Mbewe was appointed Arrows boss back in 2018 taking over from former Chipolopolo Boys boss Honor Janza.
“Working with Coach Chisi is awesome (smiles) because he is a man who fears God and he has been there for me whenever I go down he normally talks to me so that i pick up. He is one person who is Frank and he is a good leader and one person who gives chance to everyone I would say he is a person who has a lot of belief in me,” he said.
Mandu like most players in the MTN Super League has a dream of going to play abroad and his preferred destination is Europe.
“Yeah it’s everyone’s dream as a player to go play abroad it’s something that motivates us, as a player to keep working hard. I would like to go to Europe and show case my talent as well,” Mandu told the ZamFoot Crew in an exclusive interview.
Mandu was part of the team that went to play Coca-cola international games in South Africa in 2012 and came out tops. In the same year Zambia hosted the Zone-6 games which he was also part of and won silver alongside the likes of Mangani Banda,Patrick Ngoma, Langson ‘Adiyah’ Mbewe and Chibuye T. Mulilo
Mandu now wants to get a chance to play at the senior team. He is working alongside an AFCON winner in James Chamanga who he says has been a big blessing to him and the team.
“I played at youth level and it will be my dream come true I play for national team that’s my goal is believing one day I will represent my country,” he said.
“It’s a big motivation to us, he (James Chamanga) is like a blessing to us. Young players and that’s what makes us push if he can still play like that at the age of 40 what about us young ones,” he added.
Mandu has advised young players who want to play in the Super League to work hard and maintain discipline if they want to make it.
“I would like to advise those who wish to play at this stage to keep on working hard maintain displine and don’t forget to put God first with God all things are possible,” he said.
Mandu has been instrumental in the middle of the park for the Airmen who are currently 13th on the MTN Super League log table.
