Richard Stephenson (Zambian footballer)
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Date of birth | 12 August 1949 | ||
| Place of birth | Ndola, Northern Rhodesia | ||
| Height | 5'11" | ||
| Playing position | Midfielder | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 1967–1976 | Kabwe Warriors | ||
| 1976–1977 | Raylton United FC | ||
| 1978–1981 | Power Dynamos | ||
| National team | |||
| 1968–1976 | Zambia | ||
| * Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only. |
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Richard Stephenson (born 12 August 1949) was one of Zambia's most gifted midfielders who featured during the country's very first Cup of Nations appearance in Egypt in 1974. He captained the 'Magnificent' Kabwe Warriors and was Zambia's footballer of the year in 1971. Stephenson also played for Kitwe giants Power Dynamos later in his career.
Stephenson was born in Ndola and attended Fatima Convent School in Ndola Rural from 1957 to 1966 where he did his primary and junior secondary education. He got inspired to play football by his teacher Bonnie Williams who was coaching rugby and football at the school. Williams also introduced him to rugby but as a young boy, it did not make sense to him and all he wanted was to kick the ball with his feet. He enjoyed playing football and excelled at the game, becoming the school's team captain.
After his junior secondary education, Stephenson transferred to King George VI High School in Kabwe where his history teacher Glyn Peters played a key role in his soccer career. Peters was Stephenson's history teacher and also the Zambia Secondary Schools Association (ZASSA) secretary and he encouraged Stephenson to take his career further.
Stephenson joined Kabwe Warriors in 1967 and made his league bow in a match against Mufulira Blackpool and he won the Castle Cup in his first season. He was chosen to play for the school team which was involved in the Midlands schools league that was dominated by Munali Secondary of Lusaka with King George VI often coming out second though they also managed to win the league title. After the schools league championship, Stephenson was selected by ZASSA to represent Zambia in Malawi in 1967. The team had the likes of George Mungwa, Peter M'hango, Moses Simwala, Gibby Zulu, Edward Musonda, Emmanuel Mwape, Willie Phiri, Poni 'Express' Muyambango and Ackim Musenge, and was coached by John Green who would later become the Zambia national team coach.
Before departure for Malawi, the schools team played a game against the senior national team at Scrivener Stadium in Kitwe and won 4–1. On their Malawian tour, they played 3 matches against various schools and won all of them by wide margins. It was then decided that they should play first division teams and the Zambians won two games and only lost the last one 1–0 against a strong club side Zomba United. Stephenson won the league title with Warriors in 1968, which was the first time in the club's history.
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