Jacob Mulenga
{{short description|Zambian footballer (born 1984)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2021}}
{{Infobox football biography
| name = Jacob Mulenga
| image = Jacob Mulenga.jpg
| image_size =
| caption = Mulenga with Utrecht in 2010
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|df=yes|1984|2|12}}
| birth_place = Kitwe, Zambia
| height = 1.86 m
| currentclub =
| clubnumber =
| position = Forward
| youthyears1 = 2000–2002
| youthclubs1 = Afrisport
| years1 = 2002–2004
| clubs1 = Afrisport
| caps1 = 44
| goals1 = 32
| years2 = 2004–2009
| clubs2 = Châteauroux
| caps2 = 109
| goals2 = 27
| years3 = 2007–2008
| clubs3 = → Strasbourg (loan)
| caps3 = 22
| goals3 = 1
| years4 = 2009–2014
| clubs4 = Utrecht
| caps4 = 93
| goals4 = 37
| years5 = 2014–2015
| clubs5 = Adana Demirspor
| caps5 = 15
| goals5 = 8
| years6 = 2015–2017
| clubs6 = Shijiazhuang Ever Bright
| caps6 = 72
| goals6 = 27
| years7 = 2018–2019
| clubs7 = Liaoning Hongyun
| caps7 = 47
| goals7 = 22
| years8 = 2020–2022
| clubs8 = Go Ahead Eagles
| caps8 = 46
| goals8 = 7
| totalcaps = 448
| totalgoals = 161
| nationalyears1 = 2004–2014
| nationalteam1 = Zambia
| nationalcaps1 = 41
| nationalgoals1 = 9
}}
Jacob Mulenga (born 12 February 1984) is a Zambian former professional footballer who played as a striker.
Mulenga started his footballing career at age 18 with hometown club Afrisport, before moving to Châteauroux in 2004. Five years later, he moved to FC Utrecht where he made his definitive breakthrough but also suffered two serious knee injuries. After successful stints in Turkey and China, Mulenga returned to the Netherlands in 2020 where he signed for Go Ahead Eagles.
Between 2004 and 2014, he made 41 appearances scoring nine goals for the Zambia national team.
Club career
Mulenga started his career with the Zambian third-tier club Afrisport from his hometown of Kitwe at a relatively late age – he only started playing organised football as an 18-year old. With Afrisport whom he reached promotion in the 2003 season. In December 2003, he trialled together with fellow countryman Collins Mbesuma at French club Stade Rennais. However, both were unable to gain a contract, after which Mulenga returned to Afrisport. He had a strong season there, including four goals during the first three matches.{{cite news |last1=Mukena |first1=Walliey |title=Zambia' Most Potent Combinations In Modern Times |url=https://www.zedsoccer.com/zambia-most-potent-combinations-in-modern-times/ |access-date=30 November 2020 |work=Zedsoccer |date=17 April 2020}} In the summer of 2004, he returned to France for a trial period at Bastia alongside Billy Mwanza.{{cite news |last1=Weir |first1=Stuart |title=Stuart Weir talks to Jacob Mulenga, Shijiazhuang Ever Bright and Zambia (Interview recorded March 2013) |url=http://www.planetsportfootballafrica.com/jacobmulenga.html?fb_comment_id=772542742872592_772543852872481 |access-date=30 November 2020 |work=planetsportfootballafrica.com |date=March 2013 }} After the Corsican club did not offer him a contract, LB Châteauroux showed interest in him and he was subsequently signed on a four-year contract.{{cite news |title=Châteauroux chance for Mulenga |url=https://www.uefa.com/uefaeuropaleague/news/01a0-0e6b074b09b0-fb3607e21d17-1000--chateauroux-chance-for-mulenga/ |access-date=30 November 2020 |work=UEFA |date=24 August 2004}} Mulenga thus became the second Zambian in the French professional divisions, after Andrew Tembo who played for Marseille in 1994.{{cite news |last1=Gondwe |first1=Kennedy |title=Kalaba aiming high in France |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/africa/4163806.stm |access-date=30 November 2020 |work=BBC Sport |date=18 August 2005}}
In his Ligue 2 debut on 24 August 2004, Mulenga scored both goals in a 2–0 win over Chamois Niortais. In the ensuing period, however, he suffered a large number of injuries, limiting his appearances in the league that year to 15.{{cite web |title=J. Mulenga - Profile |url=https://int.soccerway.com/players/jacob-mulenga/21172/ |website=int.soccerway.com |publisher=Perform Group |access-date=30 November 2020}} In the two seasons that followed, he played more often, but his goalscoring stagnated. In August 2007, he was sent on a one-season loan to Ligue 1 club RC Strasbourg.{{cite news |title=Strasbourg sign Mulenga on loan |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/africa/6961991.stm |access-date=30 November 2020 |work=BBC Sport |date=24 August 2007}} After this period the Zambian returned to Châteauroux.
In late May 2009, the club announced that Mulenga had been signed by Dutch Eredivisie club FC Utrecht, who, after a disappointing season, had been looking for a striker and eventually signed him on a three-year contract.{{cite news |title=Van Wolfswinkel en Mulenga naar FC Utrecht |url=https://www.voetbalprimeur.nl/nieuws/142253/van-wolfswinkel-en-mulenga-naar-fc-utrecht |access-date=29 November 2020 |work=voetbalprimeur.nl |date=29 May 2009 |language=Dutch}} On 31 October 2010, in a match against ADO Den Haag, he tore his right cruciate ligament and was sidelined for the entire 2010–11 season.{{cite news |title=Einde seizoen voor Mulenga |url=https://www.nu.nl/voetbal/2370317/einde-seizoen-mulenga.html |access-date=30 November 2020 |work=NU.nl |date=3 November 2010 |language=Dutch}} On 14 August 2011, Mulenga made his comeback and marked this by turning a 0–2 deficit against De Graafschap into a 2–2 final result after scoring two goals. In a match against Ajax on 9 November, however, he tore his left cruciate ligament and was sidelined for eight months.{{cite news |title=Ongelukkige Mulenga scheurt opnieuw kruisband |url=https://www.ad.nl/nederlands-voetbal/ongelukkige-mulenga-scheurt-opnieuw-kruisband~ab82724c/ |access-date=29 November 2020 |work=Algemeen Dagblad |date=9 November 2011 |language=Dutch}}
In August 2014, Mulenga signed with Turkish club Adana Demirspor,{{cite news |title=Mulenga Adana Demirspor'da |url=https://www.ntvspor.net/futbol/mulenga-adana-demirsporda-579e1f86c873cc3eb424e5a8 |access-date=30 November 2020 |work=NTV Spor |date=14 August 2014 |language=Turkish}} before moving to Chinese football six months later.{{cite news |last1=Agranum |first1=Ritz |title=Home > Sports Football News: Shijiazhuang Ever Bright of the Chinese Super League Extends Jacob Mulenga's Contract |url=http://www.chinatopix.com/articles/82879/20160413/football-news-shijiazhuang-ever-bright-chinese-super-league-protracts-jacob-mulenga-contract.htm |access-date=30 November 2020 |work=China Topix |date=13 April 2016}} He moved from Shijiazhuang Ever Bright to Liaoning Hongyun in January 2018, where he, in October 2018, became team captain. In February 2020, he signed a contract extension until the end of 2020.{{cite news |last1=Kalito |first1=Abraham |title=Jacob Mulenga extends Liaoning FC contract |url=https://diggers.news/goal-diggers/2019/02/21/jacob-mulenga-extends-liaoning-fc-contract/ |access-date=29 November 2020 |work=News Diggers |date=21 February 2019}} In April 2020, it was announced that Mulenga was suing his club, after not receiving his salary throughout the 2019 season.{{cite news |last1=Church |first1=Michael |title=Soccer-China's once-dominant Liaoning face closure as players go unpaid |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/soccer-china-liaoning-idUSXXN2BT000 |access-date=30 November 2020 |work=Reuters |date=5 April 2020 |quote="For the whole of 2019 I haven’t received a salary from them," Zambian Jacob Mulenga, who joined Liaoning at the start of 2018, told Reuters by telephone from the Netherlands.}}{{cite news |last1=King |first1=Tom |title=Liaoning FC on brink of shutting down |url=https://www.sportbusiness.com/news/liaoning-fc-on-brink-of-shutting-down/ |access-date=29 November 2020 |work=SportBusiness |date=6 April 2020}} In May 2020, Liaoning Hongyun went bankrupt and Mulenga was left without a club.
In October 2020, he joined Dutch second-tier Eerste Divisie club Go Ahead Eagles as a free agent.{{cite news |last1=Arentsen |first1=Dennis |title=Go Ahead Eagles presenteert 36-jarige Mulenga in bejaardentehuis |url=https://www.ad.nl/nederlands-voetbal/go-ahead-eagles-presenteert-36-jarige-mulenga-in-bejaardentehuis~ae722129/ |access-date=29 November 2020 |work=Algemeen Dagblad |date=8 October 2020 |language=Dutch}} He immediately scored in his debut on 17 October, after coming on as a substitute in the 69th minute against FC Eindhoven, as Go Ahead won 3–0.{{cite news |title=Aanvaller Mulenga scoort bij debuut voor winnend Go Ahead |url=https://www.rtlnieuws.nl/sport/voetbal/artikel/5190921/aanvaller-mulenga-scoort-bij-debuut-voor-winnend-go-ahead |access-date=29 November 2020 |work=RTL Nieuws |date=17 October 2020 |language=Dutch}}
On 30 April 2022, Mulenga announced his retirement from football after the 2021–22 season.{{cite news |last1=Arentsen |first1=Dennis |title=GA Eagles-spits Mulenga kijkt terug op bewogen voetbalreis, maar heeft als Zambiaanse zakenman nog 1001 plannen |url=https://www.destentor.nl/ga-eagles/ga-eagles-spits-mulenga-kijkt-terug-op-bewogen-voetbalreis-maar-heeft-als-zambiaanse-zakenman-nog-1001-plannen~aee9a111/ |access-date=12 July 2022 |work=De Stentor |date=30 April 2022 |language=nl}}{{cite news |title=Mulenga (38) gaat stoppen en wendt zich weer tot oude liefde FC Utrecht |url=https://www.voetbalprimeur.nl/nieuws/1028377/mulenga-38-gaat-stoppen-en-wendt-zich-weer-tot-oude-liefde-fc-utrecht.html |access-date=12 July 2022 |work=Voetbalprimeur |date=30 April 2022 |language=nl-NL}} He scored in his last match as a professional footballer, a 3–1 league loss to SC Heerenveen, after having come on as a substitute.{{cite news |title=Mulenga sluit loopbaan af met treffer |url=https://www.ustad.nl/sport/3401719/mulenga-sluit-loopbaan-af-met-treffer |access-date=12 July 2022 |work=UStad |date=15 May 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220712090543/https://www.ustad.nl/sport/3401719/mulenga-sluit-loopbaan-af-met-treffer |archive-date=12 July 2022 |language=nl}}
International career
Mulenga progressed through several national Zambian youth teams and was called up to the senior team in a match against Sudan in May 2004, at the age of twenty, because of his good performances in the second division of Zambia. In the 2006 FIFA World Cup qualifiers, he scored against Togo in the first match of the group stage. However, the third place in the standings was not enough for Zambia to qualify for the World Cup. The country did however manage to qualify for the 2006 Africa Cup of Nations at the expense of the DR Congo and Mali. Due to an injury, Mulenga did receive any caps during this tournament, but two years later he was part of the team's starting eleven during the 2008 Africa Cup of Nations, and scored the 2–0 goal in a 3–0 win over Sudan. Zambia did not advance from the group stage in this tournament. Mulenga also had to cancel due to an injury for the 2012 Africa Cup of Nations.
Personal life
Career statistics
=Club=
| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|+ Appearances and goals by club, season and competition ! rowspan="2" |Club ! rowspan="2" |Season ! colspan="3" |League ! colspan="2" |National cup ! colspan="2" |League cup ! colspan="2" |Continental ! colspan="2" |Total |
| Division
!Apps !Goals !Apps !Goals !Apps !Goals !Apps !Goals !Apps !Goals |
|---|
| rowspan="6" |Châteauroux
|2004–05{{cite web |title=Jacob Mulenga » Club matches |url=https://www.worldfootball.net/player_summary/jacob-mulenga/2/ |website=worldfootball.net |publisher=HEIM:SPIEL |access-date=23 June 2022}} | rowspan="5" |Ligue 2 |15 |5 |1 |1 |1 |0 |2{{Efn|Appearances in UEFA Cup|name=UEFA Cup}} |0 |19 |6 |
| 2005–06
|25 |6 |1 |0 |2 |0 | colspan="2" |— |28 |6 |
| 2006–07
|38 |7 |2 |1 |1 |1 | colspan="2" |— |41 |9 |
| 2007–08
|4 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0 | colspan="2" |— |4 |0 |
| 2008–09
|27 |9 |0 |0 |2 |2 | colspan="2" |— |29 |11 |
| colspan="2" |Total
!109 !27 !4 !2 !6 !3 !2 !0 !121 !32 |
| Strasbourg (loan)
|22 |1 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0 |22 |1 |
| rowspan="6" |Utrecht
| rowspan="5" |Eredivisie |29 |8 |1 |0 | colspan="2" |— |4{{Efn|Four appearances and two goals in the European competition playoffs|name=Play-offs 2010}} |2 |34 |10 |
| 2010–11
|9 |3 |1 |1 | colspan="2" |— |7{{Efn|Appearances in UEFA Europa League|name=UEL}} |0 |17 |4 |
| 2011–12
|11 |7 |1 |0 | colspan="2" |— | colspan="2" |— |12 |7 |
| 2012–13
|28 |14 |0 |0 | colspan="2" |— |3{{Efn|Three appearances in the European competition playoffs|name=Play-offs 2013}} |0 |31 |14 |
| 2013–14
|16 |5 |1 |1 | colspan="2" |— |2{{Efn|Appearances in UEFA Europa League|name=UEL}} |4 |19 |10 |
| colspan="2" |Total
!93 !37 !4 !2 ! colspan="2" |— !16 !6 !106 !43 |
| Adana Demirspor
|2014–15{{cite web|url=https://int.soccerway.com/players/jacob-mulenga/21172/|title=J. Mulenga: Summary|website=Soccerway|publisher=Perform group|access-date=22 June 2022}} |15 |8 |0 |0 | colspan="2" |— | colspan="2" |— |15 |8 |
| rowspan="4" |Shijiazhuan Ever Bright
|2015 | rowspan="2" |Super League |30 |13 |0 |0 | colspan="2" |— | colspan="2" |— |30 |13 |
| 2016
|12 |0 |0 |0 | colspan="2" |— | colspan="2" |— |12 |0 |
| 2017
|30 |14 |1 |0 | colspan="2" |— | colspan="2" |— |31 |14 |
| colspan="2" |Total
!72 !27 !1 !0 ! colspan="2" |— ! colspan="2" |— !73 !27 |
| rowspan="3" |Liaoning Hongyun
|2018 | rowspan="2" |China League One |25 |14 |0 |0 | colspan="2" |— | colspan="2" |— |25 |14 |
| 2019
|22 |8 |0 |0 | colspan="2" |— | colspan="2" |— |22 |8 |
| colspan="2" |Total
!47 !22 !0 !0 ! colspan="2" |— ! colspan="2" |— !47 !22 |
| rowspan="4" |Go Ahead Eagles
|28 |6 |3 |0 | colspan="2" |— | colspan="2" |— |31 |6 |
| 2021–22
| rowspan="2" |Eredivisie |18 |1 |1 |0 | colspan="2" |— | colspan="2" |— |19 |1 |
| 2022–23
|0 |0 |0 |0 | colspan="2" |— | colspan="2" |— |0 |0 |
| colspan="2" |Total
!46 !7 !4 !0 ! colspan="2" |— ! colspan="2" |— !50 !7 |
| colspan="3" |Career total
!404 !129 !13 !4 !6 !3 !18 !6 !441 !142 |
{{reflist|group=lower-alpha}}
=International=
| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|+ Appearances and goals by national team and year{{NFT|7697}} | |||
| National team | Year | Apps | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|
| rowspan="11"|Zambia
|2004 | 7 | 2 | |
| 2005 | 0 | 0 | |
| 2006 | 0 | 0 | |
| 2007 | 3 | 1 | |
| 2008 | 9 | 1 | |
| 2009 | 5 | 0 | |
| 2010 | 5 | 1 | |
| 2011 | 1 | 0 | |
| 2012 | 1 | 0 | |
| 2013 | 5 | 3 | |
| 2014 | 5 | 1 | |
| colspan="2"|Total | 41 | 9 |
:Scores and results list Zambia's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Mulenga goal.
| class="wikitable sortable"
|+ List of international goals scored by Jacob Mulenga | ||||||
| scope="col"|No.
!scope="col"|Date !scope="col"|Venue !scope="col"|Opponent !scope="col"|Score !scope="col"|Result !scope="col"|Competition | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| align="center"|1 | 22 January 2008 | Baba Yara Stadium, Kumasi, Ghana | {{fb|SUD}} | align="center"|2–0 | align="center"|3–0 | 2008 Africa Cup of Nations |
| align="center"|2 | 13 January 2010 | Tundavala National Stadium, Lubango, Angola | {{fb|TUN}} | align="center"|1–0 | align="center"|1–1 | 2010 Africa Cup of Nations |
| align="center"|3 | 17 January 2010 | Tundavala National Stadium, Lubango, Angola | {{fb|CMR}} | align="center"|1–0 | align="center"|2–3 | 2010 Africa Cup of Nations |
| align="center"|4 | rowspan="2"|8 June 2013 | rowspan="2"|Levy Mwanawasa Stadium, Ndola, Zambia | rowspan="2"|{{fb|LES}} | align="center"|1–0 | rowspan="2" style="text-align:center"|4–0 | rowspan="2"|2014 FIFA World Cup qualification |
| align="center"|5 | align="center"|3–0 | |||||
| align="center"|6 | 15 June 2013 | Levy Mwanawasa Stadium, Ndola, Zambia | {{fb|SUD}} | align="center"|1–0 | align="center"|1–1 | 2014 FIFA World Cup qualification |
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- {{LFP|mulenga-jacob}}
- {{Soccerway|jacob-mulenga/21172}}
- [https://www.vi.nl/spelers/jacob-mulenga/profiel Jacob Mulenga] at Voetbal International {{in lang|nl}} ({{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150722052519/http://www.vi.nl/spelers/carriere/jacob-mulenga.htm}})
{{Navboxes
|title=Zambia squads
|bg= #008000
|fg= white
|bordercolor= #FF8000
|list1=
{{Zambia squad 2008 Africa Cup of Nations}}
{{Zambia squad 2010 Africa Cup of Nations}}
{{Zambia squad 2013 Africa Cup of Nations}}
}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Mulenga, Jacob Geerten}}
Category:Footballers from Kitwe
Category:Men's association football forwards
Category:Zambian men's footballers
Category:21st-century Zambian sportsmen
Category:LB Châteauroux players
Category:RC Strasbourg Alsace players
Category:Adana Demirspor footballers
Category:Cangzhou Mighty Lions F.C. players
Category:Liaoning F.C. players
Category:Go Ahead Eagles players
Category:Eerste Divisie players
Category:Chinese Super League players
Category:China League One players
Category:Zambia men's international footballers
Category:2008 Africa Cup of Nations players
Category:2010 Africa Cup of Nations players
Category:2013 Africa Cup of Nations players
Category:Zambian expatriate men's footballers
Category:Expatriate men's footballers in France
Category:Zambian expatriate sportspeople in France
Category:Expatriate men's footballers in the Netherlands
Category:Zambian expatriate sportspeople in the Netherlands
Category:Expatriate men's footballers in China