TP Mazembe yesterday (Wednesday) announced the appointment of Charles Musonda as assistant coach of the professional team and young people’s team, in charge of specific training.

The 49-year-old Zambian has been integrated in the technical staff led by Pamphile Mihayo and assisted by David Mwakasu and Robert Kidiaba.

Zamfoot, an online publication run down a brief football history of Musonda and highlighted accolades that qualified him for the position at the Congolese football house:

His debut as a professional for Zambia came in 1988 against Ghana in Lusaka which Zambia won 2–0 and Musonda did not disappoint, tellingly imposing himself on the game. He was one of the star players at the 1988 Summer Olympics in Seoul 1988 as Zambia reached the quarter finals, trouncing Italy and Guatemala with 4–0 score lines along the way.

Musonda was to be part of the Zambian selection expected on April 28, 1993 in Dakar to play a qualifying match of the 1994 World Cup against Senegal. He was summoned to participate, but at the request of the general manager of Anderlecht, he declined the invitation to play a major match in the league at the weekend.

This defection saved the then young lad his life. The plane carrying the Zambian team to Senegal crashed at sea off Libreville, killing all occupants of the aircraft. Traumatized by the crash, he decided to never play for Zambia again, causing discontent among Zambian fans. He however reconsidered his decision in November 1995.

On Tuesday, January 1st, 2019, TP Mazembe Vice President Mohamed Kamwanya introduced Musonda to the club’s technical staff and management.

He said he was very happy to join the technical staff of the TPM, a team whose pressure is permanent.

“In the company of all the staff, I am extremely determined to meet the challenges that lie ahead,” said Musonda.

He was presented to the players and the press on Wednesday.