23/12/2025
LAWRENCE MULENGA - BLUNDER YES, BUT GIVE HIM A BREAK
The Chipolopolo Boys suffered a 2-0 loss to DR Congo on Tuesday afternoon. A frustrating afternoon with Chipolopolo missing some good chances.
The first goal, basically a cross from Arthur Masuaku which after a bounce fooled Lawrence Mulenga.
The goal was his fault and no one can argue that. He should have saved that, no two ways about it.
Now the calls for his head are unnecessary because he is not prone to bounders and since his debut this is one of the few times he has made a big mistake.
In that same game, we crucifying for a blunder he made ( and yes we should blame him for that blunder ) he also made some important saves that kept the scoreline at 2-0.
The second goal was a defensive error, we have just never been good at defending set pieces kaya what the problem is on that front, I guess Arsenal would enjoy playing against us ( that's a pun).
There is even comparison to Manchester United who swapped error burdened André Onana for Senne Lammens but please don't make me laugh, Onana made errors every week and even where he has gone just yesterday the coach warned him after a chaotic 3-3 draw.
As of September 2025, Since joining Manchester United in July 2023, Onana’s nine errors leading to goals across all competitions was the joint-most of any goalkeeper from the top five European leagues.
For reference; https://www.unitedinfocus.com/news/the-worst-errors-andre-onana-made-at-manchester-united-with-mistake-strewn-spell-coming-to-an-end/
https://turkish-football.com/onana-under-fire-trabzonspor-manager-issues-public-warning-to-man-utd-loanee/
https://www.premierleague.com/en/news/4407687/analysis-can-lammens-save-man-utd-from-their-goalkeeper-conundrum
So the comparison for me is throwing me off but anyway we move.
Back to Lawrence Mulenga, mistakes are normal in football, once in a while because that's just how the Sport is.
Even Kennedy Mweene one of our best goalkeepers ever made blunders who remembers the Jeremy Njitap goal at 2010 AFCON?
But such is life, Lawrence has done well for Chipolopolo so far and if the coach feels he is the best of the three he has carried, let's give him the support and confidence.
The goalkeeper position needs consistency and Mulenga seems to be the one chosen as first choice so let's give him time and chance.
