Clifford Mulenga targeting a return to Zambian national team

He was given a chance to re-gain his confidence in the inaugural MultiChoice Diski Challenge, and having shone with the reserves, Mulenga feels the experience has done him well, despite being in an unfamiliar situation.

“The Diski games helped my confidence and also made me push harder to get back into the PSL,” he tellsKickOff.com.

“It’s not good having played in the PSL for so long, and now having to play with the younger guys. But it’s coming along.”

Mulenga’s good form in the Diski Challenge earned him a place in Ajax’s PSL team after a four game absence, coming on early in the second half in their last encounter against the University of Pretoria.

“I played [in Ajax’s last game] against Tuks and I did fairly well, so hopefully my days are getting closer to a return to the starting eleven,” he says.

Mulenga admits to following Zambia’s Afcon qualifying campaign quite closely, with his side securing qualification to next year’s tournament as they ended second in Group F behind Cape Verde.

The 27-year-old, who has 23 caps for his country and was part of the 2012 Afcon winning squad with Zambia, still harbours hopes of returning to the national fold despite not being involved in his side’s qualifying campaign.

“I have been following Zambia’s progress with a lot of interest, because I am still young and hopefully I can still contribute to the national team,” he says.

“I think my fitness is good now, so hopefully I can play a couple of games and give myself a chance to play in the national team.”