World Soccer - UK (2021-10)

weretakingshape.Ayear prior, based
onthesuccessofKafueF,Kawanu
was oeredthelicencefor another
local clubcalledusaka eltic after
sponsorspulledout.Kawanuusedthe
twolicenses tomergeusakaeltic
andKafueFintooneinstitution
calledKafueeltic.
2009 alsomarkedKawanu’sfirst
major saletoauropeanclub. ussian
outfit, Ural,boughthisambaungu
fromKafueeltic,whichairmed
Kawanu’sphilosophyandvision.
“At thetimeI rebranded, and saw
theneedtoprepareplayers at ayoung
ageforurope. Wehavealways been
theteamknownlocally as theoneswho
suppy youngsters tothebiggerclubs.
“Afterselling hisamba,I reaised
I nowhadtolook aroundthecountry,
not just Kafueandusaka,for payers.
I wouldwatchschool competitions with
mycoaches andseewhichplayers
couldfitintoour team.”
Kafue’s reputationgrew,asdid
Kawanu’s. In 201 2,hewas recognised
for hisefforts andbecameanexecutive
boardmember of theZambianFA
overseeingthecountry’syouth
development.
“That openedmy eyes upto
evenmoreopportunities.I hadthe
chancetointeractwithpeopleinall
theprovincestohelpuswiththe
nationalteams.It’showIdiscovered
players likenock[Mwepu].”
ngs alwa
opla ,

wrong character. They wouldget too

easilydistracted, startdrinkingand

justlosetheir way.

“So,after that experience,whenI

was scouting players, Itriedtodomore

ofaninvestigationintothebackground

oftheplayer,whatset-uptheyarein,

their families andstulikethat.”

neparticular player whowas

groomedby KawanuwasPatsonaka.

Theneweicester

ityforward,

whoselatefather

playedinthe

sameNitrogen

Stars teamthat

was managedby

Kawanu’sfatheris

[Kawanu]gavemetheopportunity

tostart my dream. Kafueeltic

means lifetome.”

Inaka’scase, Kawanu’s rolewent

beyondjusta coachorclubdirector.

HebecamePatson’smentor.

“Hebelievedinmeevenwhenother

peopledidn’t,”aka remembers. “ee

encouragedmeandhelpedmemake

therightdecisions.Hesupportedme

andmy family,makingsurewehad

everythingthatweneeded. He

has beenlikeafathertome.”

nock Mwepu, whoKawanu

discoveredduringhis scouting trips

acrossZambia’sopperbet,isalso

forever indebtedtohisformermentor.

“It wasdiicult formetoleavemy

parents andgotoKafueeltic,” nock

says. “Whattookmetherewasfootball...

All Iwantedwas toplay football,and

I founditatKafueeltic.”

ikewithaka, Kawanubecame

nock’s guide. Ashouldertolean

on, especially intheearly stages,

whenMwepuhadtoadjusttolife

awayfromhis family fothefirst

timeasa teenager.

“ .ee aw

ngeno

.

eewitness

“It’shardtofindwaystodescribehowmuchthe

clubmeanstome.Theyarepartofthereasonfor

whoIamtoday...KafueCelticmeanslifetome”

LeicesterCitystrikerPatsonDaka

Champions...players

celebratingwithlast

season’stitlemedals