U-23 starlet impresses Italian club
Under-23 national football team and Ascent Academy attacking midfielder Lovemore Mbeta has impressed Italian Serie D outfit Associazione Sportiva Morolo Calcio after a three-week trial.
Ascent Soccer Academy founder George Maguire said in an interview yesterday that the two parties will soon open talks on the player’s deal.
He said: “The club is very interested. We will come down to getting [his] visa which they are looking into. We’re hopeful.”
Mbeta initially left for a three-week trial at Spanish Segunda Division outfit CF Velez in July.
At the end of the trial, the Spanish side extended it for aanothe three weeks to have look at the player.
However, at the end of the extension, Velez did not offer the player a contract, according to Maguire.
Mbeta then headed for Italy three weeks ago to try his luck at Associazione Sportiva Morolo Calcio, popularly known as ASD Morolo Cacio.
Maguire said Ascent Academy co-founder Adrian Bradbury facilitated the Italian trial.
He said: “Their Uefa pro licenced head coach used to be at Toronto FC (MLS) where the other co-founder of Ascent knows him. We have a number of club contacts in various European countries plus USA and Canada.”
Mbeta also had a successful training placement with South Africa DStv Premiership side Stellenbosch FC last year and has represented Malawi at both Under-17 and Under-23 levels.
Ascent Soccer, Malawi’s only full-time residential football academy, recruited Mbeta as a 12-year-old in 2015.
The player has emerged as one of the best Ascent’s first generation alongside free-scoring Christopher Gototo on loan at Blue Eagles and fellow Under-23 international Festus Duwe, who is set to join Lowa Lakes College (USA) on a full soccer scholarship.
Ascent Soccer director Thom Nkorongo said he is proud of his players for continuing to shine at international level.
