Left Back Football

Red Bull Salzburg scouts were initially keeping a close eye on Patson Daka when a lumbering and technically advanced young midfielder caught their eye, so much so that they made it their mission to sign him. Zambian football fans aptly presented Enock Mwepu with the sobriquet of ‘The Computer’ as his intelligence in tight spaces, his passing range and his ability to play numerous roles across the midfield excited crowds in the Southern African country long before a move to Europe ever materialised. He instantly became an integral facet of FC Liefering’s side before earning minutes here and there in a competitive Red Bull Salzburg midfield under Marco Rose while he now has become a first-team regular under Jesse Marsch.

Born in Chambishi with a younger brother, Francisco who is another one of the shining lights of Zambian football, Mwepu’s game was developed on rocky and dust-filled terrains with a ball made of plastic. His footballing IQ and initiative for tight spaces was nurtured on Zambian pitches before joining Kafue Celtic who honed his ability as they have done with many other youngsters. Mwepu than began to excel in a highly talented Zambian U20 team that won the U20 African Cup of Nations which was held in Zambia to earn an U20 World Cup Place. The belief in the team was so strong that they opened the tournament to a raucous and sold out crowd in capital city Lusaka’s 60,000-seater Heroes National Stadium.

Zambia competing at an U20 World Cup bodes well as the last time they had representation at the tournament, Emmanuel Mayuka, Stophila Sunzu and a few other players developed to become stalwarts for the side that shocked the world and won the 2012 Africa Cup of Nations. Zambia danced and sang their way into their opener with Portugal in South Korea in the 2017 edition. Mwepu started the game by playing a spellbinding through ball to Fashion Sakala who had his shot saved. The duo linked up again for Sakala to work some dazzling step-overs in the wide areas to work a pass for Mwepu who had his shot saved for 17-year-old, Edward Chilufya to finish the rebound.

Mwepu showed the speed of thought to work well weighted through balls while he needed more defensive resolve as he missed a sliding challenge for the Portuguese to find space on the edge of the Zambian box. In the next match against Iran, he continued with more of the same as he played a ball in between the lines for Emmanuel Banda to spread wide for Sakala to shoot high and wide. Zambia fell behind twice in the game due to silly mistakes before Mwepu made it 2-2 after Zambia instigated a move with heart stopping tricks and flicks on the edge of the box for Mwepu to calmly side-foot Zambia level in a game the young Chipolopolo eventually won 4-2 to progress to the next round.

Mwepu was rested for the final group game before Zambia played Germany in the knockout phase. Zambia fell behind as the 22-year-old midfielder then pulled them back into the game by spreading the game with a long-ball before pushing up to regain possession to attempt an acrobatic overhead kick as Banda eventually smashed Zambia level. Mwepu was then at the heart of a move in which Sakala was played through on the left flank to smash a shot past the keeper from an impossible angle. Zambia took a two-goal lead after Patson Daka established a break from a corner in which he played through Mwepu who finished with aplomb for his second goal of the tournament.

Zambia then allowed Germany pull level in the second-half to send the game into extra time before Chilufya and Mwepu worked a fine move to play in Shadreck Mayembe who drove a shot in to earn Zambia a spot in the Quarter-Finals. Before the game, Mwepu had told the media that he already knew where he was moving to as a transfer to Austria was in the offing after a game where he had 4 shots and 1 goal while creating 7 chances with 2 assists. In the Quarter-Final against Italy, Mwepu had to go off early in the game as he was nursing an injury as he finished the tournament with an astounding 2 goals and 2 assists.

14 days after the Zambia’s campaign in South Korea concluded, Mwepu’s move to Austria was announced while 8 days after that Emmanuel Banda finalised a move to Belgium and Edward Chilufya, a move to Sweden. Under a month later, Mwepu made his debut for FC Liefering as a right-interior in a midfield diamond. Despite such a short time with his teammates, it was impressive that they trusted him as an essential tool in build-up play. He dropped into the midfield controller role to receive possession and was consistently trusted in possession with his back to the opposition goal.

In September, Mwepu returned to Lusaka for an African Cup of Nations Qualifier against Algeria as he allayed fears of a Fashion Sakala sending off by constantly winning possession and driving his nine teammates forward. He eventually drove into the opposition half and slammed a shot home to seal the win for Zambia. He continued his progress at FC Liefering as against Hartberg, he played wide in a midfield diamond and more central when it switched to a 4-3-3. He orchestrated the game, working essential connections to start counters, connecting play in the final third and constantly making runs past the striker. He left two players for dead at the by-line before starting a counter with a one-touch diagonal. He also bagged a brace to win the game for his team as he was on the precipice of being called up to the first team.

He put together another breath-taking performance away to Austria Lustenau, showing his multi-faceted set of skills as he dropped to the left of a midfield three in the defensive phase before pushing high into the pockets as a connector in the possession phase. He then won the ball during counter-pressure to cut back for a teammate to send his shot wide. He capped an amazing first half by exquisitely playing a through ball to Patson Daka for his compatriot to calmly chip over the keeper. Mwepu than ran onto a cross to tap in his sixth goal of the season, despite only being in November of his first season abroad before he went off with a goal and an assist on the day.

Mwepu counter-pressing as a defensive midfielder.

By April 2018, he had made his first start for Red Bull Salzburg as it took him only 3 minutes to earn his first assist. Mwepu showed good movement to play in Fredrik Gulbrandsen with one of his trademarked through balls, for the striker to dribble the keeper and score. The next month, he managed to manoeuvre one of the most amazing assists caught on video for Salzburg. Mwepu won the ball, just before the halfway line, drove into the opposition half towards the right flank prodding the ball with his right foot before suddenly cutting back into the centre to drive past two men and ever so slightly, dink a beautifully angled and weighted pass for Hee Chan Hwang to control the ball and finish.

Then Red Bull Salzburg Head Coach, Rose included him in the first team as he continued his progression with more appearances for the first-team in his second season in Austria. Mwepu’s ability to combine and progress play from deep while connecting play from the pockets added another dimension for Salzburg. At home to Hartberg he glided across the pitch, passing and moving with purpose as he was heavily involved in Salzburg’s play. He chipped a pass to Hannes Wolf on the counter before pushing forward to win the ball after it was lost, only to slide a pass through to Amadou Haidara who created an opportunity for a teammate to have a shot saved. Rose preferred to play with Diadie Samassekou as the lone holding midfielder at the base of midfield but when Mwepu played with the Malian, he moved closer to him to create a double-pivot, giving him more influence on play. Mwepu would always try to play the ball through the lines which would lead to his passes going askew and losing possession, but he is a gifted vertical passer and consistently finds options in between the lines.

Away to Celtic in the Europa League, he cut a pass back for Stefan Lainer who crossed for Moanes Dabbur to head into the Celtic goal. Mwepu continued to get regular game-time in between Europa League and Austrian Bundesliga games but was not certified starter. Mwepu had to show patience as Xaver Schlager and Diadie Samassekou were ahead of him in the pecking order. Midfielders need consistent game-time to establish and maintain rhythm as Mwepu experienced a slight ebb in the flow of his development. At home to Napoli, Mwepu lost possession as the Italian side broke on the counter to cross as Andreas Ulmer’s clearance deflected off Jerome Onguene and into the path of Arek Milik to finish.

Mwepu ball through the lines and tackle.

The Zambian midfielder regained his form and confidence in the Austrian Cup away to Grazer AK. He made a run in behind Takumi Minamino to head a Lainer cross off the crossbar before having a goal disallowed. Then he took on a pass before he cleverly waited to quickly assess his options as he could’ve played a pass out wide but threaded a pass to Wolf in the pockets for the Austrian to work a one-two with Minamino to go 1v1 with the keeper to open his body and score. The 22-year-old then moved into the higher areas, being more forceful in possession, working delicate and slight passes into the pockets while driving into the pockets himself and shielding the ball. He had a moment where he dummied the ball, received the layoff to beat his man and be fouled for a free-kick as he eventually headed the resulting free-kick wide. Rose also used Mwepu’s football intelligence as he positioned him as a ball-playing fullback as well as at centre-back.

The summer would bring a new coach as Mwepu put in a number of strong pre-season performances to impress Jesse Marsch. The American switched from a 4-4-2 diamond to a flat 4-4-2/4-2-2-2 shape as Frenchman, Antoine Bernede was his first-choice deep-lying midfielder. Marsch maintained a constant belief in Mwepu as after a training session, he put an arm around the Zambian’s shoulder before comparing his performance in the previous session to Arsenal and French great Patrick Viera. Bernede would suffer a long-term injury as that would grant more playing opportunities to Mwepu, especially in UEFA Champions League games.

“I’m young, strong and tall, so like a young Patrick Vieira. Jesse always says I just have to toughen up my game a little, and then I'll be like him. I've thought about it, and yeah - I would like to be like Vieira,” said Mwepu to Red Bull Salzburg’s website when asked about Jesse Marsch likening him to Patrick Viera.

His performance away to Liverpool was a microcosm of his wide array of abilities as a midfielder as he began the game as a wide midfielder in a flat 4-4-2, moved into the six space in the second-half and then moved back as a wide midfielder with responsibilities in the central pockets. His ability to instigate quick passing interchanges to work the ball out of pressure situations and managing to distribute the ball under pressure gave the Austrian side an element of press resistance. His willingness to be courageous with his passing can make his distribution erratic as he can lose possession. He will need to iron out those issues in the future.

Mwepu is a modern-day midfielder meshing Southern African flair while being to fill in many roles across the pitch. He can drop deep to receive passes from centre-backs and distribute possession while he can push into the pockets, connecting play by laying off to teammates. He can also move out wide as an interior to work combinations with his fullback to create crossing opportunities out wide and in the half-space. The Zambian starlet is a strong counter-presser as his physical gifts do not belie his immense technique.

Mwepu recently signed a contract extension till 2024 but with Amadou Haidara, Diadie Samassekou, Hannes Wolf, Xaver Schlager and Takumi Minamino all making moves to bigger leagues, one cannot help but be excited for his future. He has gradually developed into one of the most intriguing African midfielders at a team well-known for developing African talent. The Zambian already accrued 3 assists in his first ever UEFA Champions League campaign with some enchanting performances against high-level opposition. Mwepu has earned a first-team spot in the absence of Bernede as the two could form a formidable partnership to drive Salzburg to another Austrian title and into the deeper stages of the Europa League.