From the football pitch to Parliament – Kennedy Phiri nominated MP

Former Zambia Under-17-star Kennedy Phiri, whose football career ended at 16 after losing both legs in a train accident, is among those nominated as Member of Parliament under Zambia’s new proportional representation system. Phiri, currently FAZ Copperbelt Youth Representative…

Former Zambia Under-17-star Kennedy Phiri, whose football career ended at 16 after losing both legs in a train accident, is among those nominated as Member of Parliament under Zambia’s new proportional representation system.

Phiri, currently FAZ Copperbelt Youth Representative and founder of Ndola Youth Soccer Academy, says he refused to be defeated by disability.

A former Chipulukusu Ward councillor and FAZ strategic plan committee member, he says in Parliament he will advocate for disability rights and the voice of the voiceless.

“I have vehemently refused to be defeated and held captive by this acquired disability,” Phiri previously told journalists.

After the accident, Phiri rebuilt his life around football. For nearly 30 years he has transformed from a promising youngster into a football administrator, coach, youth mentor, community leader and former councillor.

Before the accident, he played for Chibuku Warriors, Young Railway Express, Ndola District Schools, Copperbelt Provincial Schools, Ndola Lime Hotspurs FC before earning a place in the Zambia Under-17 national team.

He is Founder and Executive Director of Ndola Youth Soccer Academy, through which he has mentored hundreds of youths using football to promote education, leadership, safeguarding and positive life choices.

His administration journey includes Ndola United FC Team Manager, FAZ Match Organising Committee, and attachment to *ZESCO United FC secretariat in 2015.

He contested the 2020 FAZ Copperbelt elections for Youth Representative, losing by two votes, before later becoming Provincial Youth Representative and Chairperson of the FAZ Copperbelt Technical and Youth Committee.

He also serves on the FAZ National Youth Football Committee, FAZ Competitions Sub-Committee, and FAZ 2026-2036 Strategic Plan Ad Hoc Committee.

As Head Coach at Ndola Youth Soccer Academy for over 13 years, he led Kansenshi Secondary School to third place at 2014 Coca-Cola Schools Championship and worked with the Copperbelt technical team under former Chipolopolo coach Hervé Renard on talent identification.

In politics, Phiri tested grassroots appeal in 2016 Local Government Elections, winning Chipulukusu Ward (now Mapalo Ward) councillor seat by over 2,000 votes.

At Ndola City Council he chaired Education Committee and later Agriculture Committee and served on the Ndola Central CDF Committee.

At community level he has worked with USAID, DEC, Zambian Breweries, ZAMBART, Zambia Police using sport for youth empowerment, sexual reproductive health, drug abuse prevention and safeguarding.

He is a two-time recipient of the Chijika Ng’onga Disability Recognition Sports Award.

Academically, he holds certificates in Labour Law and Business Management from Lusaka Business and Technical College and HR Management from NIPA and is pursuing a Bachelor of Laws at Northrise University.

He also holds FAZ D and E coaching licences, with leadership training in Egypt and Morocco, including Football for All Leadership Programme Africa 2026 in Rabat.

Through the Kennedy Phiri Foundation, he uses football for education, health, social inclusion and sustainable community development.

In Parliament, he intends to advocate for institutionalized social inclusion, disability rights, equitable wealth distribution for grassroots communities and the voice of the voiceless.