Chibwe snubs Bafana to play for Zambia – report

Mwenya Chibwe of Polokwane City

Tuesday Oct 08, 2019. 15:00

Polokwane City goalkeeper Mwenya Chibwe has decided to play for Zambia over South Africa, according to current Bafana Bafana coach Molefi Ntseki.

Ntseki had been hoping to call up the 26-year-old for the Nelson Mandela Challenge clash against Mali in Port Elizabeth on Sunday, but says his plans were scuppered when the keeper told him he wanted to play for Zambia.

Chibwe was born in South Africa but has a Zambian father, and has risen to prominence this season at Polokwane, where he vies with Zimbabwe international George Chigova for a starting place.

“We did our research on Chibwe of Polokwane City. He is a South African, he was born in North West and we sent a call-up for him to join us for this camp,” Ntseki told The Citizen.

“But unfortunately he will be turning out for his father’s country which is Zambia. He has joined the Zambians in camp and that is why we had to call for [Ricardo] Goss.”

Chibwe is a product of the Nedbank Ke Yona Team Search and previously had spells with Ga-Rankuwa United and Platinum Stars, where he played little, but starred for Jomo Cosmos in the National First Division last season.

That won him a move to Polokwane, where he has put in a number of superb displays this season, conceding just one goal in over six hours of football.