Ponga Liwewe is a household name in Zambian football. He has been in the football industry for a long time, with his first official involvement being as a radio analyst alongside his father, who was a commentator. From there, his passion for football grew, and he has since made it his main occupation in sports marketing.
Liwewe is all about bringing business and sport together, particularly in football. He believes that business seeks exposure and publicity, while sports needs money. Therefore, he has made it his mission to bring the two together. In his words, “that, in a nutshell, is what I do.”
He is also a writer and has worked as the Deputy Editor of African Soccer Magazine based in London. His passion for writing has reignited, and he has been working on a series with CEC on the 50th anniversary of Power Dynamos, the team he supports.
Liwewe’s love for Power Dynamos started when he was at university in Kitwe. He never missed a game and was fortunate to witness the team’s greatest moments, such as becoming African champions in 1990. He has also seen some of the low moments, like the first time they lost to Arab Contractors in Independence Stadium in 1982.
His father, Dennis Liwewe, was a commentator, and they would often go to football matches together. It was a great opportunity for Liwewe because his father had access to great players, which gave him the chance to meet them. He later started analyzing football games alongside his father and got into football media, moving from radio to television and writing.
Liwewe speaks highly of Freddie Mwila, the coach who demands excellence from his players, doesn’t tolerate indiscipline, and has transcended from club level to work with the national team. He was involved in the President’s Cup, where the foundation of the team was laid, and rebuilding the national team after the air crash.
For Liwewe, without the backing of CEC, it would be challenging for Power Dynamos to remain among the top clubs. He believes that it’s not only about money, but also the right decisions regarding staffing, coaching, and other technical staff, and the model that you think will work for you.
Looking to the future, Liwewe sees Power Dynamos rebuilding where it once stood by adopting a model similar to Liverpool’s. He believes that resources can only take you so far, and other structures, like youth structures, will be essential in bringing fame to the club.
As Power Dynamos turns 50, Freddie Mwila encourages the boys to work hard and bring fame to the club, and Liwewe wishes the team another 50 years of success.
Ponga Liwewe has been in football a long time, and he has made it his life’s work to bring business and sport together. His passion for football has seen him go from a fan to a sports marketing maven, and his insights into the game will undoubtedly inspire future generations of Zambian football enthusiasts.
