Mulenga pleased with Pirates debut

Mulenga came on in the second half as replacement for fellow countryman Justin Shonga in Saturday’s Soweto Derby, which Pirates won 3-1.

“When I came to this club I said I wanted to test myself, and what better way than to start that test in a Soweto Derby? All over the world people have an interest in this game, and in Africa, ours is one of the biggest,” Mulenga told the club’s website.

“I’m very happy with my contribution, and to have such a positive start and good reaction from the crowd gives me confidence to keep working hard to show myself even more.

“I have to give thanks to the medical team and physios for getting me up to speed, and also importantly to the coaches for the opportunity and the trust they showed in me.

“When you watch the Derby from afar, you try imagine what it’s like for the players. When you are part of the mix, you realise that the intensity of preparation is completely different to what you imagined.

“My coaches and teammates played a big role in making me mentally ready for this game because it’s not just about the result on the field, but the energy and mood of the country as a whole,” added Mulenga.

The 27-year-old also revealed what coach Micho Sredojevic told him before he came on for Shonga.

“Before I came on, the coach told me that I needed to keep it simple and manage the game. My role was to help the team with killing off the game in the final 10 minutes and if I find a gap to create a scoring opportunity then it’s a bonus for us. I know they also wanted me to get a run in an important game so that I can take in the atmosphere even more. This was a big confidence boost for me,” concluded the Zambian star.