Kennedy Mweene

Kennedy Mweene (born 11 December 1984) is a Zambian professional footballer who played as a goalkeeper. On club level he spent most of his career in South African Premier Soccer League clubs Free State Stars and Mamelodi Sundowns. For the Zambia national team, he is the most capped player, having represented Zambia more than 120 times.

Kennedy Mweene
Personal information
Full name Kennedy Mweene[1]
Date of birth (1984-12-11) 11 December 1984
Place of birth Lusaka, Zambia
Height 1.82 m (6 ft 0 in)
Position(s) Goalkeeper
Youth career
State House
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2003 Lusaka Celtic
2004 Lusaka Dynamos 27 (0)
2005 Kitwe United 30 (0)
2005–2013 Free State Stars 191 (11)
2013–2023 Mamelodi Sundowns 88 (0)
Total 336 (11)
International career‡
2004–2021 Zambia 122 (2)
Medal record
Representing  Zambia
Men's football
Africa Cup of Nations
Winner2012 Gabon & Equatorial Guinea
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 11 July 2023
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 11 July 2023

Club career

Renowned for his penalty-saving and penalty-taking skills, Mweene was arguably one of the best goalkeepers in Africa, winning the PSL Goalkeeper of the Season award (best player in the South African top division) in the 2008–09 season. He played for Free State Stars until the end of the 2012–13 season. On 27 June 2013, he agreed to a three-year deal with Mamelodi Sundowns.[2]

Mweene retired in July 2023.[3]

International career

Since being beaten from the spot by Samuel Eto'o at the 2008 Africa Cup of Nations, he has saved every penalty he has been presented with while playing for Zambia. He has been the first-choice goalkeeper for Zambia since making his debut in 2004 and was a participant at the 2006 African Nations Cup, 2008 African Nations Cup, 2010 African Nations Cup and the 2012 African Nations Cup. On 12 February 2012, Mweene kept a clean sheet during the 2012 Africa Cup of Nations Final and saved one penalty kick (as well as successfully converted his own) in the shootout to decide the game, which was eventually won by Zambia. He was chosen as the goalkeeper of the tournament. During the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations Mweene converted a penalty kick, earning a 1–1 draw against Nigeria and also saved two penalties during the tournament.[4]

In 2015, Mweene participated in the sixth edition of the Africa Cup of Nations, the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations, which was the 30th edition of the Africa Cup of Nations and was hosted by Equatorial Guinea from 17 January to 8 February 2015.

Career statistics
As of 13 January 2017[5]
Scores and results list Zambia's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Mweene goal.
List of international goals scored by Kennedy Mweene
No. Date Venue Opponent Score Result Competition
125 January 2013Mbombela Stadium, Nelspruit, South Africa Nigeria1–11–12013 Africa Cup of Nations
215 October 2014Levy Mwanawasa Stadium, Ndola, Zambia Niger3–03–02015 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying

Honours

Free State Stars

Mamelodi Sundowns

Zambia

See also

References
  1. "FIFA Club World Cup Japan 2016: List of Players: Memelodi Sundowns" (PDF). FIFA. 14 December 2016. p. 6. Archived from the original (PDF) on 1 December 2017.
  2. "Downs conclude Mweene deal". Mamelodi Sundowns F.C. 27 June 2013. Archived from the original on 2 July 2013. Retrieved 30 June 2013.
  3. Mokoena, Kgomotso (11 July 2023). "Legendary Downs shot-stopper Kennedy Mweene retires". Sunday World. Retrieved 11 July 2023.
  4. Hughes, Ian (25 January 2013). "Zambia 1–1 Nigeria". BBC Sport. BBC. Retrieved 25 January 2013.
  5. Kennedy Mweene - Century of International Appearances
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