Zambian international Golden Mafwenta has completed a move to Belarusian outfit FC Naftan-Novopolotsk, the club has confirmed.
The move comes following the conclusion of Mafwenta’s spell with Ukrainian Premier League side Metalist 1925 Kharkiv, where he featured last season.
In 2022, the former ZANACO and Buildcon FC defensive midfielder signed a four-year contract with Czech club MFK Vyškov, who compete in the Czech National Football League, the country’s second tier. Shortly after putting pen to paper with Vyškov, Mafwenta joined Utah-based Real Monarchs on a season-long loan.
Real Monarchs compete in MLS Next Pro, the third tier of American soccer. During his time in the United States, Mafwenta made 19 appearances, scoring one goal and providing one assist.
Upon his return to the Czech Republic, Mafwenta went on to enjoy a productive stint with Vyškov, where he played 40 league matches, registering one goal and one assist, and added four appearances in the Czech Cup.
The 25-year-old spent the 2024 season in Ukraine with Metalist 1925 Kharkiv, making 17 appearances and contributing one assist in the Ukrainian Premier League.
On the international stage, Mafwenta has earned eight caps for the Zambia national team. He made his senior debut on 19 January 2021 in an Africa Cup of Nations group match against Tanzania.
Mafwenta now links up with Naftan-Novopolotsk, a club founded in 1963 under the name Neftyanik Novopolotsk, before undergoing several name changes and adopting its current identity in 2001. The club plays its home matches at the 5,000-capacity Atlant Stadium and finished 13th last season, collecting 28 points from 30 league games.
Naftan-Novopolotsk have enjoyed notable success in Belarusian football, winning the Belarusian Cup in 2009 and 2012, and featuring in the UEFA Europa League qualifying rounds during the 2009–10 and 2012–13 campaigns, where they faced established European sides such as Gent and Red Star Belgrade.
