Richard Mbulu

Richard Mbulu
Personal information
Date of birth (1994-01-25) 25 January 1994 (age 30)
Place of birth Mangochi, Malawi
Height 1.85 m (6 ft 1 in)[1]
Position(s) Forward
Team information
Current team
 Al-Najaf SC
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2012–2016 Malawi Armed Forces College
2017–2018 Costa do Sol 26 (5)
2018 A.D. Sanjoanense 4 (0)
2018–2019 Costa do Sol 20 (2)
2019–2022 Baroka 70 (9)
2022– Al-Najaf SC
2024 Costa do Sol 22 (10)
International career‡
2017– Malawi 43 (6)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 11 October 2022
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 18 November 2024

Richard Mbulu (born 25 January 1994) is a Malawian professional footballer who plays as a forward for Iraqi side Al-Najaf SC. He was included in Malawi's squad for the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations.[2]

Early life

Mbulu was born in Mangochi, Malawi.[1]

Club career

Having started his career at Malawi Armed Forces College following his enlistment in the armed forces,[3] he joined Mozambican side Costa do Sol in December 2016.[4] He later moved to Portuguese side A.D. Sanjoanense before returning to Costa do Sol in the summer of 2018.[5] In the summer of 2019, Mbulu signed for South African side Baroka on a three-year deal.[6]

International career

He was called up to the Malawi national football team for the first time in January 2017,[7] and made his debut for them on 10 June 2017 in a 1–0 win against Comoros.[1] He scored his first goal for Malawi on 4 September 2017 in a 1–0 win against Togo.[8] He scored the only goal of a 1–0 win against Uganda which allowed Malawi to qualify for the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations.[9]

Personal life

When Mbulu left school, he became a soldier but later decided to pursue a career in football. His father was also a footballer and a soldier.[3][10]

References

  1. ^ a b c "Richard Mbulu". National Football Teams. Benjamin Strack-Zimmermann. Retrieved 11 June 2020.
  2. ^ "Afcon 2021: Mauritania include 16-year-old Beyatt Lekweiry in squad". BBC Sport. 31 December 2021. Retrieved 8 January 2022.
  3. ^ a b Said, Nick (27 May 2019). "Dream comes true for new Baroka striker". The Times. Retrieved 11 July 2020.
  4. ^ "Costa do Sol volta a atacar o mercado!". costadosol.co.mz (in Portuguese). CD Costa do Sol. 6 December 2016. Retrieved 11 July 2020.
  5. ^ "Mbulu pode estrear-se frente ao Textáfrica". costadosol.co.mz (in Portuguese). CD Costa do Sol. 15 June 2018. Retrieved 11 July 2020.
  6. ^ Ditlhobolo, Austin (24 May 2019). "Baroka snap up Malawian striker Richard Mbulu". Goal. Retrieved 11 July 2020.
  7. ^ Mughogho, Lyonike (11 January 2017). "Chiukepo dropped as Mbulu earns first Flames call up". malawi24. Retrieved 11 July 2020.
  8. ^ Chilapondwa, Andrew Cane (4 September 2017). "Mbulu on target as RVG registers second Flames win". malawi24. Retrieved 11 July 2020.
  9. ^ "Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers 2021: Richard Mbulu goal sees Malawi beat Uganda to seal qualification". Firstpost. 29 March 2021. Retrieved 8 May 2021.
  10. ^ Motshwane, Gomolemo (1 April 2020). "'Sometimes army has to be harsh' - soldier and Baroka FC striker Richard Mbulu weighs in on Covid-19". The Sowetan. Retrieved 11 July 2020.