Luke Milanzi

{{Infobox football biography

|name = Luka Milanzi

|image =

|fullname = Luke Bruno Milanzi{{cite web|url=http://www.fifadata.com/document/FU17/2009/PDF/FU17_2009_SquadLists_MWI.pdf |title=Malawi under 17 squad |date=16 October 2009 |accessdate=22 February 2017 |work=FIFA}}

|birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1994|12|04|df=y}}

|birth_place = Blantyre, Malawi

|height = 1.78 m

|position = Striker

|currentclub =

|clubnumber =

|youthyears1 =

|youthclubs1 =

|years1 = 2007–2009 |clubs1 = Eagle Strikers |caps1 = |goals1 =

|years2 = 2009–2010 |clubs2 = ESCOM United |caps2 = |goals2 =

|years3 = 2010–2017 |clubs3 = TP Mazembe |caps3 = |goals3 =

|years4 = 2012 |clubs4 = → Don Bosco (loan) |caps4 = |goals4 =

|years5 = 2012 |clubs5 = → NAPSA Stars (loan) |caps5 = |goals5 =

|years6 = 2013 |clubs6 = → ZESCO United (loan) |caps6 = |goals6 =

|years7 = 2014–2016 |clubs7 = → Mighty Wanderers (loan) |caps7 = |goals7 =

|years8 = 2016 |clubs8 = → Big Bullets (loan) |caps8 = |goals8 =

|years9 = 2017 |clubs9 = Big Bullets |caps9 = |goals9 =

|years10 = 2017 |clubs10 = → Masters Security (loan) |caps10 = |goals10 =

|years11 = 2017–2018 |clubs11 = Blue Eagles |caps11 = |goals11 =

|nationalyears1 = 2009

|nationalteam1 = Malawi U17

|nationalcaps1 = 7

|nationalgoals1 = 2

|nationalyears2 = 2009–2010

|nationalteam2 = Malawi

|nationalcaps2 = 2

|nationalgoals2 = 0

|manageryears1 =

|managerclubs1 = Bright Stars

|manageryears2 = 2022

|managerclubs2 = Rumphi United

|manageryears3 =

|managerclubs3 = Kadona Stars

|manageryears4 = 2023

|managerclubs4 = Karonga United

|manageryears5 = 2023–2024

|managerclubs5 = Karonga United (assistant)

|manageryears6 = 2024–

|managerclubs6 = Dedza Dynamos (assistant)

|club-update =

|nationalteam-update =

}}

Luke Bruno Milanzi (born 4 December 1994), variously known as Luka Milanzi{{NFT player|pid=36598|accessdate=21 February 2017}} or Bruno Milanzi,{{cite web|url=https://www.fifa.com/fifa-tournaments/players-coaches/people=307879/index.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151004103332/http://www.fifa.com/fifa-tournaments/players-coaches/people=307879/index.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=October 4, 2015 |title=Bruno Milanzi |work=FIFA |accessdate=21 February 2017}} is a former Malawian footballer.{{NFT player|pid=36598}}

Club career

Milanzi joined Congolese side TP Mazembe in 2010{{cite web|url=http://mwnation.com/luka-milanzi-breaks-silence/ |title=Luka Milanzi Breaks Silence |date=27 August 2013 |accessdate=21 February 2017 |author=Peter Kanjere}} from ESCOM United in suspicious circumstances, with FIFA having to intervene after Milanzi had signed a {{frac|3|1|2}}-year deal, despite international rules stating players under 18 could only sign 3-year deals.{{cite web|url=http://footballwithoutborders.blogspot.co.uk/2013/02/the-curious-case-of-luka-milanzi.html |title=The Curious Case Of Luka Milanzi |date=5 February 2013 |accessdate=21 February 2017 |author=Bryn May}} The two sides' documentation reportedly did not match either, with rumours of Milanzi lying about his age, a common occurrence in African football. Because of this, when he called up to the Malawi national team in 2010, Milanzi had to travel through Zambia before entering Malawi, and often has trouble journeying between countries due to his questionable documents.

In January 2012, TP Mazembe loaned Milanzi to its affiliate CS Don Bosco.{{cite web|publisher=TP Mazembe|title=Le point (presse) de Lamine |url=http://www.tpmazembe.com/fr/actualite/2390/le-point-presse-de-lamine|language=French|date=23 January 2012}} Milanzi remained under contract with TP Mazembe. However, he did not break into the first team, and would be loaned to NAPSA Stars and ZESCO United.{{cite web|url=https://www.lusakatimes.com/2013/02/18/luka-milanzi-hopes-for-better-fortunes-at-zesco-utd/ |title=Luka Milanzi Hopes for Better Fortunes at Zesco Utd |date=18 February 2017 |accessdate=21 February 2017}} In 2014, Milanzi was cleared to play for the Mighty Wanderers of his hometown, Blantyre,{{cite web|url=http://www.afriem.org/2014/07/tp-mazembe-clear-luka-milanzi/ |title=TP Mazembe Clear Luka Milanzi |date=10 July 2014 |accessdate=21 February 2017}}{{cite web|url=http://www.nyasatimes.com/luka-milanzi-cleared-to-play-for-wanderers/ |title=Luka Milanzi cleared to play for Wanderers |date=9 July 2014 |accessdate=21 February 2017}} after initially not being able to sign due to preconditions on his loan release.{{cite web|url=http://mwnation.com/nomads-to-send-back-milanzi/ |title=Nomads to Send Back Milanzi |date=5 June 2014 |accessdate=21 February 2017}} He impressed during his time with The Nomads, who then extended his loan deal in 2015.{{cite web|url=http://allafrica.com/stories/201503240134.html |title=Malawi: Be Forward Wanderers Seeking to Extend Luka Milanzi's Loan Spell |date=23 March 2015 |accessdate=21 February 2017}}

He signed on loan for the Big Bullets in 2016 from TP Mazembe.{{cite web|url=http://mwnation.com/big-bullets-await-milanzi-clearance/ |title=Big Bullets Await Milanzi Clearance |date=22 September 2016 |accessdate=21 February 2017}}

He joined Masters Security in April 2017 in a loan deal from Big Bullets.{{cite web|url=https://malawi24.com/2017/04/04/masters-security-guns-ahead-maiden-league-appearance/ |title=Masters Security guns on ahead of maiden league appearance |date=4 April 2017 |accessdate=10 April 2017 |work=Malawi 24}} However, due to an issue with wage payment, he left in late 2017 to join Blue Eagles.{{cite web|url=https://www.nyasatimes.com/milanzie-dumps-masters-security-join-blue-eagles/ |title=Milanzie dumps Masters Security to join Blue Eagles |date=27 September 2017 |accessdate=16 December 2019 |work=Nyasa Times}} He played for the Eagles for a few months before being released.{{cite web|url=https://www.nyasatimes.com/nyasa-bb-kick-zakazaka-nyirenda-kamlete/ |title=Nyasa BB kick out Zakazaka, Nyirenda and Kamlete |date=31 January 2018 |accessdate=16 December 2019 |work=Nyasa Times}}

Shortly after his release from the Eagles, Milanzi retired prematurely from football, citing an injury sustained during his time with TP Mazembe.{{cite web|url=https://malawi24.com/2020/12/22/former-flames-player-bruno-milanzi-ventures-into-coaching/|title=Former Flames player Bruno Milanzi ventures into coaching|date=22 December 2020|first=Mike Lyson|last=Zgambo|website=malawi24.com}}

International career

Milanzi played for the Malawi under 17's at the 2009 African U-17 Championship, despite supposedly only being 14 at the time. He also played at the 2009 FIFA U-17 World Cup, where he made three appearances and scored a consolation goal in a 4–1 loss to Spain.

He made his one and only senior appearance in 2010, a second-half substitute in a friendly against Zimbabwe.{{cite web|publisher=The Herald|title=Zimbabwe/Malawi: Warriors Edge Malawi|author=Hwata, Augustine|url=http://www.davidcoltart.com/2010/03/zimbabwe-warriors-edge-malawi|date=4 March 2010}}

He was called up to the squad again in 2015 while playing for the Mighty Wanderers.{{cite web|url=http://malawinewsnow.com/2015/09/mtawali-drops-fischer-time-for-malawi-career-too-old-to-play-national-team/ |title=Mtawali Drops Fischer, Time for Malawi Career - Too Old to Play National Team |date=20 September 2015 |accessdate=21 February 2017}}

Coaching career

In 2020, Milanzi went into coaching, attending a course to obtain a Local D license and coaching at local Mzuzu club Bright Stars. He later went on to coach Rumphi United in the Super League of Malawi.{{cite web|url=https://malawi24.com/2022/10/28/rumphi-united-bow-out-of-elite-league/|title=Rumphi United bow out of elite league|date=28 October 2022|accessdate=23 December 2022|website=malawi24.com}}

After a stint with Kadona Stars, he managed Karonga United, but after the club were fined due to Milanzi's lack of a CAF B coaching license, he was replaced by Trevor Kajawa.{{cite web|url=https://malawi24.com/2023/08/11/three-super-league-clubs-fined-for-using-unqualified-coaches/|title=Three Super League clubs fined for using unqualified coaches|date=11 August 2023|access-date=26 March 2025|website=malawi24.com}}{{cite web|url=https://malawi24.com/2023/08/14/karonga-united-ropes-in-trevor-kajawa-as-new-coach/|title=Karonga United ropes in Trevor Kajawa as new coach|first=Andrew Cane|last=Chilapondwa|date=14 August 2023|access-date=26 March 2025|website=malawi24.com}} Having remained with the club as part of the coaching staff, he left after a year in March 2024.{{cite web|url=https://atlasmalawi.com/milanzi-leaves-karonga-united/|title=Milanzi leaves Karonga United|first=Antony|last=Isaiah Jr|date=7 March 2024|access-date=26 March 2025|website=atlasmalawi.com}} Days after leaving Karonga United, he was named assistant manager of Dedza Dynamos.{{cite web|url=https://www.247malawi.com/luke-bruno-milanzi-now-dedza-dynamos-assistant-coach/|title=Luke Bruno Milanzi now Dedza Dynamos assistant coach|date=9 March 2024|access-date=26 March 2025|website=247malawi.com}}