Former Chipolopolo striker Mwape Miti turns 50 years old today and his Golden year celebration has not gone unnoticed by his former team OB Odense.
Miti is fondly remembered by OB Odense fans for his goal-scoring record.
He joined Odense from Power Dynamos in 1997, less than two seasons after leaving his boyhood club Mulungushi Chiefs. He trekked to the Danish side alongside compatriot Andrew Tembo.
On 27 July 1997, he made his debut in a home goalless draw against AaB. In April 1998, he scored his debut goal in superb fashion as he netted a brace in OB’s 3-2 away loss to Brøndby. Following a poor campaign, OB were relegated at the end of the season.
During the 2001/02 season, the Zambian sharpshooter scored seven goals in 23 matches, and in the following season eleven goals in 27 matches.
Miti emerged as Danish League joint top scorer in the 2003/04 season with 19 goals. He was the first Zambian footballer to achieve this fate in Europe. The following season he nearly repeated the heroics when he scored 17 league goals.
Over the ten years at Odense, he scored his way into the hearts of OB fans. By the end of his OB Odense career, Miti had bagged an unprecedented 109 goals in 246 appearances.
Had he not suffered a career ending injury in 2006, Miti would probably have scored more goals for OB.
To honour his record, Odense named Miti in their all-time best 11 “De største striber” (The greatest “stripes”) when the club celebrated its 125th anniversary in 2012.
Miti had 33 caps for the Zambia national team and was part of the Zambia squad at the 1996 and 2000 Africa Cup of Nations tournaments.
Happy birthday Jagger.
