Zambia’s Owesome Twosome

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By Rob Tanner and Andy Naylor

It can take more than 24 hours to fly from the United Kingdom (UK) to Lusaka, the capital of Zambia. No wonder then that few European clubs send their scouts to the southeastern African country and its neighbours in search of footballing talent, especially when there is no guarantee the long trip will be worth their while.

The pathway to the European leagues for young Zambian players has been a difficult one to navigate but tomorrow (Sunday) two members of the country’s national team could go head-to-head in the Premier League for the first time — and it is due to one club in Kafue, a small town in Lusaka Province.

Leicester’s Patson Daka and Brighton’s Enock Mwepu have travelled a similar route from their homeland to RB Salzburg, via Austrian feeder club Liefering, before impressing enough to get the dream moves they had discussed as teenagers.

Their journeys began at Kafue Celtic, a club founded and run by former Zambia FA delegate Lee Kawanu nearly 20 years ago, and now advised by former West Ham United, Tottenham Hotspur and Sevilla striker Freddie Kanoute.

From humble beginnings, Celtic, who even play in green and white hoops like their Glaswegian inspiration, now aspire to become one of the biggest producers of local talent for European clubs in southern Africa.

Here, Kawanu and Kanoute tell The Athletic the story of Celtic, Daka and Mwepu, and their plans to unearth more hidden gems.

Daka joined the Premier League earlier this summer, it was inevitable Enock Mwepu would quickly follow suit.

Midfielder Mwepu, 23, has a habit of walking the trail blazed by good friend Daka, be it playing up the age groups for Zambia or heading to Europe with Red Bull Salzburg.

Daka not surprised best mate Enock Mwepu followed him to Premier League to sign for Brighton.

So there was little shock when Mwepu moved to Brighton in July 2021 for around £15million – a week after Daka, 22, had left Austria for Leicester in a £23m deal.

Albion’s new star told SunSport: “We met in 2014 when we were playing in a provincial game where they were trying to identify talents in Zambia. We’ve really helped each other.

“I used to tell him that he was my inspiration because he’s the first guy in our group to play in all tournaments, from Under-17s, Under-20s and the national team.

“He was always ahead of me and I’m always following him. I look up to him and say, ‘If he can achieve this, I can as well’.”

The pair will not have the chance to face off against each other until next month when Leicester visit the Amex.

On Saturday they are set to make their Premier League debuts when Mwepu’s Brighton visit Burnley and Daka’s Foxes host Wolves.

Their arrivals mark the first real impact Zambia has had on the Premier League.