Beston Chambeshi, the man who coached Enock Mwepu to 2016 COSAFA U20 and 2017 U20 AFCON glory, speaks about the midfielders’ early retirement from football, describing Mwepu as a national assest
Mwepu, 24, had retired from football on health grounds due to a hereditary heart condition that was recently detected by his club medical team at English side Brighton and Hove Alboin.
Chambeshi presided over Mwepu’s Zambia U20 development in a team that made a debut FIFA U20 World Cup quarterfinal appearance in South Korea just after lifting the 2017 U20 AFCON on home soil.
MWEPU’S COACH SHARES HIS THOUGHTS
“It is a very sad development, especially when you look at the young man. He was one of the most talented players and has retired at a time when we really needed him as a nation,” Chambeshi said.
“When I heard the news, I even failed to express myself. Mwepu was an asset to the nation.
“He is disciplined, and he had a very bright future in football.”
Chambeshi not only coached Mwepu at Under-20 and Under-23 but at senior Chipolopolo too, where the midfielder was his captain during his two stints as a coach, including the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 qualifiers.
“All this has come so suddenly, which everyone has found hard to accept. It is a condition there1 is nothing that we can do about it.
“But all we can do is pray to God that the young man can accept the situation he is in,” Chambeshi said.
Chambeshi described Mwepu as a natural-born leader.
“He does not tolerate any nonsense from his teammates, and he used to encourage them and correct them when they transgress from the teams’ direction,” Chambeshi said.
“We will miss the young man. His leadership was something else.”
Chambeshi added that his door is open for Mwepu if he needs any advice on the midfielders’ next step in life.
“On that one, I can give him some advice because, you know, coaching comes with a lot of pressure,” Chambeshi said.
“Because at the stage he has reached, maybe he can join management. I don’t want to force him; I don’t know how severe the condition is, but coaching is demanding.
“They are a lot of things in it, and it demands patience, and it is stressful.
“But let’s find his room in football management if he can accept that.”
