Lungu said his mother asked him to quit football after traumatic incident against Mafco

FCB Nyasa Big Bullets midfielder Wongani Lungu has revealed that his mother urged him to abandon professional football following a brutal on-field assault during last season’s match against Mafco FC.

The incident occurred when Mafco FC players Vitumbiko Phiri, Blessings Chandiyang’ana, Duncan Mwale, and goalkeeper Christopher Mikuwa deliberately stepped on Lungu’s legs while he was down in the penalty area.

The assault sparked widespread condemnation from supporters and football analysts, leading to decisive action from The Super League of Malawi. Three Mafco players – Phiri, Mikuwa, and Chandiyang’ana – received six-game bans for the assault, while Mafco FC was fined MK1 million for bringing the game into disrepute.

MORE NEWS FROM WAMPIRA

Speaking on the club’s Maule Talks Show, Lungu reflected on the emotional toll the incident took on his family.

“It was a game which I felt the pain of playing football. Since I started playing, that was the day when I felt the real pain of playing football,” Lungu said. “What happened in that game was really bad. The players only received yellow cards when they deserved red cards.”

The severity of the incident deeply worried Lungu’s family, with his mother questioning whether football was worth the risk.

“It was bad. It reached a point where my parents asked me to quit playing football and go back home. They were genuinely worried,” he explained.

However, support from his siblings helped change his parents’ perspective. “My sisters and brothers reminded them that injuries and challenges are part of the game and that this is my career. That helped them to change their minds.”

Despite the traumatic experience, Lungu was named player of the match that day. The former Mzuzu City Hammers captain has continued to be a reliable player for Big Bullets since joining the club mid-season last year, demonstrating his resilience in overcoming one of the most challenging moments of his career.