Pearson Mwanza


Pearson Mwanza was a Zambia international football forward.

Career

Born in Zambia, Mwanza began playing football for local side Power Dynamos' youth team when he was still a schoolboy at Ndeke A Primary School and later on went to Chamboli Secondary School in 1983 in Kitwe, where he excelled in soccer. He made his debut for the main team as a teenager and became a household name of Power Dynamos FC. He was selected in the under 20 National team and played in all the matches in which Zambia emerged the winner of the COSAFA CUP held in Malawi. He was then drafted in the senior team with the likes of Kenneth "Bubble" Malitoli and established himself as one of the regular players in the team.He later on move to USSR and Egypt to play for CSKA Pomir Dushanbe and Al-Mokawloon Al-Arab. He was fondly known by most of his childhood friends and fellow footballers as Bruno Conti.His closest friends in football circle were Kapambwe " Gentile" Mulenga; Debbie Makinka; Lios "Socrates" Makwanza; Lucky "Kumalo" Mhango; Kenneth "Bubble" Malitoli to mention but a few. He was a nature left footer and scored spectacular goals during his heydays.
On returning to Zambia, Mwanza ventured to South Africa for a brief professional career before rejoining Power Dynamos though he did not stay long there and crossed the road to Nkana FC in 1995 where he found a home before he decided to retire from active soccer.

National team

Mwanza made several appearances for the Zambia national football team, often named in the starting line-up by coach Samuel 'Zoom' Ndhlovu, at the expense of Europe-based professionals. Mwanza held his own in such company and played at the 1990 and 1992 African Cup of Nations finals. He also represented Zambia at the 1988 Summer Olympics in Seoul.

Death

Mwanza died in Kitwe after an illness.