By Edwin Mbewe
LILONGWE-(MaraviPost)-Following successful preseason trials, Ascent Soccer duo Precious Kapunda (19) and Levison Munyenyembe (18) have been signed by UMF Afturelding for the upcoming season in Iceland, Europe.
UMF Afturelding are based in the capital city of Reykjavik, playing in the second tier of Icelandic football.
Munyenyembe and Kapunda train with the unde 19 and first team and will be eligible to play for both sides this season.
Levison Munyenyembe, from Mzuzu is quick, tenacious winger and forward with an eye for goal.
Precious Kapunda, from Blantyre is a central midfield player with an exceptional range of passing.
Both players joined Ascent Soccer as 12-year-olds and were instrumental in the 2022 unbeaten tour of South Africa where Ascent Soccer beat Mamelodi Sundown U17, 3-0.
The boys loan represent Ascent Soccer’s, first players to get deals in Europe.
Academy founder George Maguire commented “This is a next level opportunity for our academy players and we’re delighted they’ve got a year in Europe to hone their skills and earn the opportunity for a bigger move if successful.
“We have a number of players in the pipeline, both male and female that will be given European opportunities this year and we are excited to see academy players putting Malawian football on the map overseas”.
Ascent Soccer’s Operations Director, Thom Mkolongo said, “Having watched Levison and Precious rise through the ranks and the academy. It’s exciting to see them earn this opportunity and they need to work hard and be disciplined through this season”.
Since 2018 Ascent Soccer, Malawi’s only full time residential football academy program, has produced over 30 youth and senior internationals.
Seven graduates playing in Super League of Malawi (notably Christopher Gototo at Silver Stirkers and Festus Duwe and Lovemore Mbeta at Civil Service United) and 8 players on athlete scholarships in the USA.
Last summer,Ascent Soccer U16 went unbeaten and lifted the Rey Cup in Iceland, beating English League one academy, Fleetwood Town 3-0 in the process.
Female players Rose Kadzere and Letica Chinyaluma have both been nominated for the inaugural Cosafa most promising players and the gara awards ceremony will be held in Durban.
Ascent U20 female side is preparing for their FAM National Championship campaign, hoping to go one better having lost on penalties in the final to Ntopwa last year.