Lifumpa Yande Mwandwe (born 29 December 2000) is an English professional footballer who plays as a forward or winger for Cymru Premier club Newtown.

Lifumpa Mwandwe
Lifumpa Mwandwe in uniform holding a folder paper sign
Mwandwe with HFX Wanderers FC
Personal information
Full name Lifumpa Yande Mwandwe[1]
Date of birth (2000-12-29) 29 December 2000 (age 23)
Place of birth Greenwich, England
Height 1.80 m (5 ft 11 in)[1]
Position(s) Forward, winger
Team information
Current team
Newtown
Number 7
Youth career
Wirral Schoolboys
2013–2019 Shrewsbury Town
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2017–2020 Shrewsbury Town 0 (0)
2019–2020Newtown (loan) 22 (3)
2021–2022 Newtown 47 (12)
2022–2023 HFX Wanderers 19 (0)
2023Newtown (loan) 5 (0)
2024– Newtown 5 (1)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 22 April 2024

Early life edit

Born in London, Mwandwe moved to Wirral as a youngster, and played for the Wirral Schoolboys.[2] He joined the Shrewsbury Town youth system in 2013.[2] During the 2017/18 season, he scored 20 goals for the Shrewsbury U18s.[2]

Club career edit

He made his senior debut for Shrewsbury Town, as a last-minute substitute, in a 3–0 victory against West Bromwich Albion U21s in an EFL Trophy group-stage match on 3 October 2017.[2][3] In October 2018, he signed his first professional contract with Shrewsbury.[4][5] In August 2019, he went on loan to Welsh club Newtown in the Cymru Premier.[6][7] In June 2020, he was released by Shrewsbury.[8]

In February 2021, he returned to Newtown on a permanent contract.[9] On 17 April 2021, he scored a brace against Haverfordwest County.[10] In January 2022, he extended his contract with the club for an additional 18 months.[11] In the 2021-22 season, he was the most fouled player in the league and led the league in completed dribbled,[12] helping the club earn a 2022–23 UEFA Europa Conference League qualification spot.[13] He was named to the league Team of the Season,[14] and was also nominated for the Young Player of the Year award, which was ultimately won by Mael Davies.[15] In his final match for the club on 14 July 2022, ahead of his transfer to Canada, he scored a goal in the second leg of the UEFA Conference League 1st qualification round match against Havnar Bóltfelag of the Faroe Islands, to level the score on aggregate and converted the final kick in the penalty shootout to help Newtown advance to the next round.[16][17][18]

In July 2022, he joined Canadian Premier League club HFX Wanderers FC through the 2023 season, with a club option for 2024.[19][20] He made his debut for the club on 23 July against FC Edmonton as a substitute, in which he drew a penalty that was converted by Samuel Salter to tie the match.[21] In January 2023, he returned to Newtown on a short-term two month loan, until 28 February.[22][23] He made his loan debut on 7 January against Connah's Quay Nomads.[24] He then returned to the Wanderers for the 2023 CPL season, before departing the club after the conclusion of the season.[25]

In January 2024, he once again returned to Newtown.[26]

International career edit

In 2018, he trained with the Zambia national under-20 team.[27] He was then named to the roster for their 2019 Africa U-20 Cup of Nations qualification matches against Rwanda U20.[28]

Career statistics edit

As of matches played 1 March 2024[1]
Club Season League National Cup League Cup Continental Other Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Shrewsbury Town 2017–18 League One 0 0 0 0 0 0 1[a] 0 1 0
2018–19 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Total 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 1 0
Newtown (loan) 2019–20 Cymru Premier 22 3 3 0 2 2 27 5
Newtown 2020–21 17 5 0 0 0 0 17 5
2021–22 30 7 1 0 2 1 1[b] 0 34 8
2022–23 0 0 0 0 0 0 2[b] 1 2 1
Total 69 15 4 0 4 3 3 1 0 0 81 19
HFX Wanderers 2022 Canadian Premier League 12 0 0 0 12 0
2023 7 0 0 0 0 0 7 0
Total 19 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 19 0
Newtown (loan) 2022–23 Cymru Premier 5 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 6 0
Newtown 2023–24 Cymru Premier 4 0 0 0 0 0 4 0
Career total 97 15 5 0 4 3 3 1 1 0 110 19
  1. ^ Appearance in the EFL Trophy
  2. ^ a b Appearances in UEFA Europa Conference League

References edit

  1. ^ a b c Lifumpa Mwandwe at Soccerway
  2. ^ a b c d "Lifumpa Mwandwe Shrewsbury profile". Shrewsbury Town F.C. Archived from the original on 4 April 2019.
  3. ^ "Town 3 West Brom U21s 0". Shrewsbury Town F.C. 3 October 2017. Retrieved 8 October 2017.
  4. ^ "Interview: Lifumpa Mwandwe". Shrewsbury Town F.C. 11 October 2018.
  5. ^ Edwards, Joe (9 October 2018). "Lifumpa Mwandwe signs professional terms at Shrewsbury Town". Shropshire Star.
  6. ^ Edwards, Joe (1 August 2019). "Shrewsbury Town youngsters are sent out on loan". Shropshire Star.
  7. ^ Mubanga, Aaron (1 August 2019). "Zambia U20 winger joins Welsh premier league side". Futaa. Archived from the original on 22 September 2021.
  8. ^ Jones, Jordan (11 June 2020). "Shrewsbury Town: Lifumpa Mwandwe released and Sears offered a new deal". Y Clwb Pêl-droed.
  9. ^ Grosvenor, Gavin (1 February 2021). "Newtown swoop to bring Shrewsbury youngster to Latham Park". Powys County Times.
  10. ^ Grosvenor, Gavin (17 April 2021). "Mwandwe strikes twice as Newtown thump Haverfordwest". Powys County Times.
  11. ^ Grosvenor, Gavin (12 January 2022). "Mwandwe commits to Newtown with new 18 month contract". Powys County Times.
  12. ^ MacDonald, Glenn (16 August 2022). "Fumpa Mwandwe making a name for himself with HFX Wanderers". SaltWire Network.
  13. ^ "Fumpa's off to Canada". MyNewtown. 13 July 2022.
  14. ^ Jones, Jordan (27 May 2022). "Revealed: The 2021/22 Cymru Premier Team of the Season as four Saints players named". Y Clwb Pêl-droed.
  15. ^ Jones, Jordan (13 July 2022). "Newtown coup fee for Lifumpa Mwandwe as winger set for Canada". Y Clwb Pêl-droed.
  16. ^ "Europa Conference League: Lifumpa Mwandwe's 'fairytale' ending with Newtown". BBC Sport. 15 July 2022.
  17. ^ Jones, Jordan (14 July 2022). "Lifumpa Mwandwe bids fairytale goodbye to Newtown with winning penalty". Y Clwb Pêl-droed.
  18. ^ Burgess, Matthew (15 July 2022). "Mwandwe Departs For Halifax After Helping Newtown Cash In On European Shootout Success". Dai Sport.
  19. ^ "'An exciting young winger': Wanderers welcome international forward Fumpa Mwandwe". HFX Wanderers FC. 13 July 2022.
  20. ^ Jacques, John (13 July 2022). "Halifax Wanderers Add 'Electric' English Forward Fumpa Mwandwe". Northern Tribune.
  21. ^ Rhodes, Benedict (23 July 2022). "Highlights: Warschewski, Salter score penalties as HFX Wanderers and FC Edmonton draw 1-1". Canadian Premier League.
  22. ^ Jacques, John (3 January 2023). "Mandwe Set For Short-Term Loan In Wales". Northern Tribune.
  23. ^ Grosvenor, Gavin (4 January 2023). "Newtown welcome loan return of star winger Mwandwe". Powys County Times.
  24. ^ Grosvenor, Gavin (7 January 2023). "Newtown mark Mwandwe homecoming with draw against Connah's Quay Nomads". Powys County Times.
  25. ^ Jacques, John (19 November 2023). "'It's Been A Pleasure': Mwandwe Departs Halifax Wanderers". Northern Tribune.
  26. ^ Grosvenor, Gavin (1 February 2021). "Man from the Halifax returns as Newtown welcome home Mwandwe". Powys County Times.
  27. ^ "Mwandwe enjoys Zambian experience". Shrewsbury Town F.C. 4 July 2018.
  28. ^ "Zambia names final Under-20 team to face Rwanda in U-20 Africa Cup Nations qualifier". Xinhua News Agency. 3 May 2018.

External links edit