Taonga Bwembya

Taonga Bwembya (born June 11, 1995) is a Zambian footballer who plays as a midfielder for Zanaco and the Zambia national team.[1]

Taonga Bwembya
Personal information
Date of birth (1995-06-11) 11 June 1995
Place of birth Zambia
Position(s) Midfielder / Defender
Club information
Current team
 Zanaco
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
0000–2017 Mufulira Wanderers
2017– Zanaco
National team‡
2015 Zambia U23 0 (0)
2017– Zambia 1 (0)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only
‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 11 May 2019

Playing career

Club career

Bwembya was instrumental in leading his club to a second place finish in the Zambian Division One in 2014, achieving promotion to the Super League after a nine-year hiatus.[2] He followed this up by leading the club to an impressive fifth place Super League finish in his first season as captain.[3] Ahead of the 2016 season, the star defender turned down offers from several top-flight clubs.[4] That year, the Wanderers saw four different managers lead the team, and they barely avoided relegation. Bwembya attributed their poor play to the "frequent changes that have been made to the technical bench."[5]

After captaining the Wanderers for two years,[2] he joined Zanaco ahead of the 2017 season.[6] His competitive debut with the team came in February, during the first qualifying round of the 2017 CAF Champions League. Bwembya was named Fans' Player of the Match in Zanaco's scoreless first-leg draw against Rwandan champions APR.[7] In the second-leg, he scored the lone goal in Zanaco's 1–0 victory to secure their spot in the next round.[8] This also happened to be his first goal with the club.[9] They defeated Tanzanian club Young Africans after that to qualify for the group stage. On the last matchday of the group stage, with Zanaco needing a single point to advance, Bwembya was sent off during their fixture against Wydad Casablanca. Ten minutes later, Wydad scored, securing their advancement as Zanaco finished third and was eliminated on goal difference.[10] He was named team captain ahead of the 2019 season.[11]

International career

Bwembya was named to the 21-man squad selected to play at the 2015 Africa U-23 Cup of Nations in Senegal,[12] although he made no appearances as Zambia saw a group stage elimination.

He made his senior international debut for Zambia on 26 March 2017 during a friendly against Zimbabwe, playing the entire 90 minutes of the 0–0 draw in Harare.[13][14]

International statistics
As of match played 26 March 2017.[1]
National teamYearAppsGoals
Zambia 201710
Total10

Personal life

Bwembya, who was raised in Mufulira, supported Mufulira Wanderers F.C. growing up.[15]

References
  1. Taonga Bwembya at National-Football-Teams.com
  2. "Taonga Bwembya missing Mighty". Lusaka Times. 18 January 2017. Retrieved 14 May 2019.
  3. "Mighty star Bwembya looking forward to CAF U23 outing". Lusaka Times. 23 November 2015. Retrieved 14 May 2019.
  4. "Taonga Bwembya stays at Mighty". Lusaka Times. 16 January 2016. Retrieved 14 May 2019.
  5. "Mighty captain Bwembya certain they will survive demotion". Lusaka Times. 4 October 2016. Retrieved 14 May 2019.
  6. Chipepo, Diana (16 January 2017). "Zanaco unveil squad". Zambia Daily Mail. Retrieved 14 May 2019.
  7. "Taonga does it for Numba". soka25east.com. Retrieved 14 May 2019.
  8. "Zanaco Shuts Down APR's Hopes For CAF Trophy". Taarifa. 18 February 2017. Retrieved 14 May 2019.
  9. "Goal thrills Bwembya". Zambia Daily Mail. 21 February 2017. Retrieved 14 May 2019.
  10. "CAF Champions League Review: Al Ahly reach quarter-finals". One Football. 8 July 2017. Retrieved 14 May 2019.
  11. "Zanaco FC as they open the season". The Independent Observer. 18 January 2019. Retrieved 14 May 2019.
  12. "Simukonda names Olympic team". Zamfoot. 23 November 2015. Retrieved 11 May 2019.
  13. "Nyirenda picks 4 debutants for Zim clash". Lusaka Times. 24 March 2017. Retrieved 12 May 2019.
  14. "Zambia extend unbeaten run despite modest draw". Lusaka Times. 26 March 2017. Retrieved 12 May 2019.
  15. Mubanga, Aaron (17 March 2019). "Emotional match for Bwembya as Zanaco host Wanderers". Futaa. Retrieved 14 May 2019.
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