Kennedy Mweene, has blamed his penalty miss in Zambia’s Afcon qualifier against Guinea-Bissau on the lack of game time he is receiving at Mamelodi Sundowns.
The 30-year-old has fallen down the pecking order after an impressive first season in which he helped the Chloorkop-based side to the league title.
Generally renowned for his penalty-saving and penalty-taking skills, the Chipolopolo goalkeeper had the chance to seal the win for Zambia in stoppage time; however saw his penalty saved by his opposite number.
The wasted opportunity ensured that the game ended in a goalless draw, with Kenya and Congo also playing out a draw – this meant Zambia missed the chance to go top of the group after the first round of fixtures.
Last month Mweene’s horror miskick handed Malawi an easy goal, and with it the Cosafa Cup Plate Final. Subsequently, he has attributed his struggle for form in his recent international appearances to his lack of playing time at club level.
“Since he lost his number one place to Denis Onyango, he hasn’t been himself. He has lost his confidence and he wants to rediscover himself by playing more regularly, hence the request for a loan move,” a source explained.
[Soccer Laduna]
Good to note that you are not one of those players that just sticks it out at a club even if they are not growing in skill or getting game time. If it is true you have requested a loan move that is good thinking. Guys like Mayuka could learn a lesson or two from you. Mayuka needs to request for a loan move and he should move to the lower league otherwise his career will just fade. If he is even starting to fail to command a starting berth at the National team that is a sign for the need for drastic career decisions.
Now that you have recognised that your lack of game time is costing the national team whats your take going to be on the next qualifiers? Are you going to accept a call up?
Yes Big Steve: Good observation and for Mweene its good to understand the situation you find yourself in and self appraise.
Goalkeepers have this rare quality of getting better with age, and you should have been getting even better now. Unfortunately you are worrying all of us soccer fans.
So for you Kennedy Mweene, your loan request is excellent and supported. What you require is game time and more game time, you are still a quality keeper. You can even come back to a club in Zambia that is struggling so that you are always in the thick of things.
I still believe in you. Go for it. If they refuse to give you a loan move leave them legally. You can even go to India or China as long as they give you game time.
In my opinion mweene made a mistake when he join sundown otherwise they re a lot of players that sundown hv destroyed so mukuka mulenga if he wt 2 progress he should sign 4 another club
Sundown is destroying plays.look at HH were is he now nobody knws they sign him knowing that they hav enough players in that position so zambians dnt go to sundowns if u wat progress
Kennedy Mweene, is absolutely on the right track is probably speaking for so many players on the Zambia national team roster that have become shells of themselves.
Mayuka, Chris Katongo, Nathan Sinkala, Mweene himself, Davies Nkausu, Hichani Hamonde were the core of the Zambia national team. All these players have faded in their ability due to lack of gametime. There was a lot of hype and a lot of jostling and running for contracts after AFCON that have now put these guys in a terrible situation. Hope there will be growth for Mweene away from Sundowns.
I also agree, Sundowns is not a club to play for unless you just want money. The immediate pressure for success has caused the likes of HH, Rotson Kilambe, Sashi Chalwe, even Mukuka Mulenga to a certain extent and now Kennedy Mweene. I would never sign for this club if I was player looking to grow in my career.
I also forgot to mention Isaac Chansa and Felix Katongo who were also critical to Zambia’s success.
The other thing Mweene is forgetting is that he was complacent by kicking the ball in the empty net before the whistle & no goalkeeper.
Zambian coaches are fools period.why usin him when munyao is upto the task he plays regularly.
Mweene has grown as a player since he joined Sundowns and has also win trophies there but it’s time for him to move on, he should join Jomo cosmos
if he really wants gametime, why not just go back to Kitwe United ha ha (JOKE!)- happy weekend to all sports fans as we wait to see which teams grab the top six slots on MTN Super league log (knowing Power and Zesco still have some unplayed games).
I totally agree with you Mweene run away far as fast as you can from Sundowns and especially the whole discriminatory coach full of apathy I have ever witnessed in RSA. Yes no foreign player – no matter how good – will survive under the shade of Sundowns and Pitso.
But why take up such an important decider if you know that you are not fit. I pardon you, next time refuse even to keep the goal no matter how Kalu or any person force you. Go to France….
Ba Truth that’s not the truth you’re saying, Pitso is a fan of foreigners and a whole lot of them plays regularly under him i.e. Khama Billiat, Cuthbert Malajila, Elias Pelembe, Denis Onyango, Anthony Lafor, Aljen Schut, the list goes on.