Fred Mwila Believed in Me—Chiyangi
Former Zambia international and current Green Buffaloes head coach Aggrey Chiyangi has opened up about his football journey, recalling the inspiration and encouragement he received from legendary coach Fred Mwila during his early days at Power Dynamos.
Chiyangi, who made his Chipolopolo debut in May 1993 and famously played in the 1994 AFCON final against Nigeria, said Mwila’s belief in him laid the foundation for a remarkable career.
“My first coach was Fred Mwila. When I joined Power Dynamos, they had a very strong team—Michael Musonda, Joseph Mwewa, Alex Chola, Peter Kaumba—these were our seniors. I was just starting in the reserves,” Chiyangi said on the Godfrey Chikumbi podcast.
He vividly remembered a moment that changed his mindset.
“One day I was walking to training, and Coach Mwila stopped his Fiat 127, reversed, and picked me up. He said, ‘I like your height and speed. I think I’m going to use you as a number nine.’ Those words stuck with me. They built me to work extra hard and impress him.”
Chiyangi added that senior players from Nkana, like Dominic Mutale and James Njengela, also shaped his development. Although his preference was midfield, unexpected situations sometimes required him to step into defense.
“There were times a teammate’s dismissal left us exposed at the back. I would volunteer to take on the toughest opponent, and when I performed well, it gave the team confidence,” he explained.
As a coach, Chiyangi has left his own mark, guiding Green Eagles to CAF interclub football and a runners-up finish in the MTN Super League. Now at the helm of Green Buffaloes, he continues to pass on the mentorship and belief he once received.
He also led Zambia to a fifth COSAFA title in 2019.
