Academy star trains with Zambia Under-20s
Most Shrewsbury Town players managed to get away for a few weeks over the summer, but for one Academy scholar the football didn’t stop.
Under-18 Forward, Lifumpa Mwandwe, travelled to the country of his parent’s birth, Zambia, to train with their Under-20 side.
“It was a proud moment for my family”, explained Mwandwe.
“Everyone came down and it was good to see family there as well, to learn about the culture, and what it’s all about.
“It was very hot! It’s a nice country and everyone was really friendly to me. Me and a lad from Wigan went and everyone seemed to know who we were and made us feel welcome.
“Over here it’s much more technical, whereas over there it was much more physical and the training they did was intense. It took some getting used to, but I got through it in the end.
“I only had about four or five training sessions with the team, so it wasn’t as much time as we assumed, but hopefully I’ll be back there soon and playing.”
Mwandwe’s call-up came after the Zambian FA made contact with Shrewsbury Town’s Academy Manager Eric Ramsay. Eric believes it will be an experience that will stand Fumpa in good stead.
“We were really pleased that he got called up towards the end of last year because he’s playing well above his age group for them and it’s something that most of our players don’t experience”, said Ramsay.
“To go and play in Africa is an entirely different ball game to what he experiences here. I’ve been to South Africa a couple of times with my previous club for tournaments and I know that it’s almost a different sport in the way the games played, so for him to have had that experience is phenomenal.
“I think it was difficult, I think it was challenging from time to time, but I think he’s come back full of energy and I think he can see if for the really enriching experience it was.”