Jacob Mulenga: Footballer, Cancer Activist And Donor

Jacob Mulenga

By Paul Shalala

He is generally known for his scoring exploits in the Chipolopolo outfit, the popular name for the Zambia national soccer team.

When the name Jacob Mulenga comes up, its football that comes to mind.

The 31 year old striker has in his decade long career played for a number of clubs in Zambia, F.C. Strasbourg and Chateauroux in France, Adana Demirspor in Turkey, Utrecht F.C. in The Netherlands and is currently playing for Shijiazhuang Ever Bright F.C. in China.

At the national level, Jacob has 42 caps and scored nine goals for Chipolopolo.

Well, that is only one side of Jacob.

But it is time to meet Jacob the humanitarian.

Unknown to many Jacob Mulenga, our soccer export to China, is a compassionate star whose heart has gone out to fight cancer.

In short he is a cancer activist and donor.

For years, this prolific striker has been making monthly contributions to the Cancer Support Network of Zambia (CSNZ).

These contributions have helped the organisation reach out to the most needy in society.

Part of the money he has donated has been used to refurbish a ward which has been adopted by the Cancer Support Network at the Kitwe Central Hospital.

"Jacob has been a great contributor to the fight against cancer in Zambia. He has been helping us financially here in Kitwe where he hails from," said Bishop Bolden Chihana, CSNZ Finance Director.

This gesture has not gone unnoticed.

As a son of the city of Kitwe, Jacob is perhaps giving back to the town that first received him.

Jacob celebrating after scoring for Zambia

"As government we really appreciate the role Jacob is playing. We realise that Zambia has produced many footballers who are playing abroad. But as Kitwe, we are proud of Jacob who has made an impact in the fight against cancer here," said Mwape Kasanda, Kitwe District Administrative Officer.

About K20, 000 donated by Jacob and other donors was spent to buy beds, bed sheets, flat screen TVs and several other assorted items which are now in a ward at the Kitwe Central Hospital which has since been adopted by CSNZ.

In the next few months, the Cancer Support Network with the help of its donors, is expected to adopt two more wards at the hospital.

This adoption will also add to the many other projects the organisation wants to embark on such as building a cancer hospital at Baluba area in Luanshya and conducting sensitisations on cancer in various communities across the Copperbelt.