‘It’s Been A Pleasure’: Mwandwe Departs Halifax Wanderers

A second Halifax Wanderers player has announced his departure in just as many days.

Today saw English winger Lifumpa Mwandwe say his farewells after the club opted to pass on his option for 2024.

The 22-year-old had made just seven appearances for the club under new boss Patrice Gheisar, so it’s fair to say a fresh start is best after he didn’t quite hit the heights many had hoped for following midseason arrival last year as a fill-in for Joao Morelli – who coincidentally hung up his boots.

“Halifax, it’s been a pleasure,” said the energetic Mwandwe online. “Nearly two years of my life away from friends and family yet you still managed to make me feel at home. I honestly could not of been with a better group of lads and have memories to last me a lifetime on and off the pitch.

Mwandwe had arrived to the club in good form from Welsh Premier League side Newton AFC, where he contributed sixteen goals in 75 appearances, last appearing (and scoring) in a UEFA Conference League qualifier before arriving out east. Before his Welsh stint he had cut his cloth with English League One side Shrewsbury Town, turning professional at the age of seventeen.

The London-born athlete was loaned to Newtown AFC in 2019, eventually signing with them in 2021 and becoming quite a force with Welsh Premier League side. Later, they secured him for a short-term loan from Halifax before the 2023 CPL season, and they appear to be keen on inviting him back now that he’s a free agent.

“I want to especially thank the fans consistently turning up over the time I was here giving us that extra push on the pitch! Excited to see what the future holds,” the winger concluded.

His time in blue saw him tally four assists through 19 appearance, with his last match seeing him feature in a 1-1 coastal clash against Pacific this September. Given the lack of game time, however, a new move was always the most likely move come the end of the year.

Mwandwe becomes the second Wanderers athlete to confirm his departure after Mo Omar, with the Wanderers also announcing that four players had met appearance clauses and will thusly return in 2024.