Zambian Football Legend Fred Mwila Dies Aged 80

Zambian football legend Fred Mwila has died at the age of 80, leaving behind a rich legacy in the country’s football history.

A family source has told Diamond Sports that Mwila died at Maina Soko Military Hospital in Lusaka on Monday morning, after suffering a stroke.

Mwila made history in 1968 when he became one of the first Zambian footballers to play professional football abroad, alongside the late Emment Kapengwe and Howard Mwikuta, who moved to the United States of America.

He later played for English side Aston Villa before transitioning into coaching.

As a coach, Mwila made history in 1991 when he guided Power Dynamos to victory in the CAF Africa Cup Winners’ Cup, now known as the CAF Confederation Cup, becoming the first Zambian coach to win a continental title.

Mwila also coached in Botswana and, in recent years, served on the Football Association of Zambia technical committee, continuing to contribute to the development of the game.