Mponda England bound for coaching course
Flames skipper Peter Mponda’s retirement from the game appears eminent as Surestream Academy has announced that they will be sending him for a beginner’s coaching course in England later this year.
The academy’s founder and director Chris Pitman said this on Thursday.
Mponda was officially named the multi-million kwacha academy’s technical director during the launch at Surestream Stadium in Chilomoni Township.
“In Peter [Mponda] we have found someone who is a role model. Peter is going to manage this facility, he will be responsible for coming up with programmes.
“We will take him to the United Kingdom for level one and two coaching courses so that in turn he will train other coaches,†said Pitman.
Mponda hinted that with his appointment as Surestream Academy TD it means his playing days are truly numbered.
“I am excited about the development. My appointment is the first step towards my new chapter in the football career. And it cannot be any better than working with the kids.
“I would not say my playing days are over yet but I am heading towards hanging up my boots,†said Mponda.
The Flames on-field leader has had a distinguished 14-year international playing career that saw him inspire the Under-20 and the senior national soccer teams to qualify for CAF Youth Championship and Africa Cup of Nations in 1999 and 2010 respectively as captain.
He also captained Big Bullets when they qualified for the group stages of the CAF Champions League in 2004 when they were called Bakili Bullets.
However, a recurring knee injury has taken its toll on the Flames captain and he has not made it a secret that he is heading towards the twilight of his playing career.
