Golden Mafwenta has completed a move to Belarusian club Naftan Novopolotsk, ending his spell as a free agent and opening a new chapter in the Vysheyshaya Liga for the Zambia-born defensive midfielder. The 25-year-old joins Naftan from “Without Club” on a free transfer, with no fee involved in the deal. His contract with Naftan runs from 11/02/2026 to 11/02/2027.
The transfer places Mafwenta, currently valued at €250k, back into top-flight football after several months unattached following his departure from Czech side MFK Vyskov. Naftan, who compete in Belarus’ Vysheyshaya Liga, gain a right-footed holding midfielder with experience across multiple countries and competitive environments, including Zambia, the Czech Republic, Ukraine and the United States.
Although Mafwenta arrives without recent club statistics listed for the current season, his career path outlines a steady progression through different leagues. He began his professional rise in his homeland with Zanaco FC after an earlier spell at Buildcon FC, where he also had a loan stint. From there, he moved to Europe with MFK Vyskov in the Czech Republic, establishing himself sufficiently to earn a loan to Real Monarchs SLC in the United States and later a temporary switch to Ukrainian side Metalist 1925 Kharkiv.
His time at Vyskov coincided with a notable climb in market value: from €175k in mid-2023 to €300k by mid-2024. A loan period at Metalist 1925 Kharkiv saw that value peak at €350k in late 2024 before dipping back to €300k in mid-2025. Following his exit from Metalist and subsequent period without a club, his value settled at €250k in late 2025, the figure that now frames his arrival at Naftan.
For Naftan, fastening a deal for a player with such a varied résumé offers tactical flexibility in the defensive midfield role. Mafwenta’s profile suggests he is suited to screening the back line, breaking up play and linking defence with midfield, attributes that could become central to Naftan’s approach in the Belarusian top division. His international club experience in Eastern Europe and North America may also aid his adaptation to Belarusian football.
From a Zambian perspective, the move keeps another homegrown midfielder in the European shop window. Born in Lusaka and listed with Zambia as his nationality, Mafwenta’s continued presence abroad maintains the trend of Zambian players seeking development and visibility outside the domestic league. While the data provided does not list specific recent matches, appearances or individual performance figures for the current campaign, his transfer history alone underlines that he has been trusted in competitive environments in several countries.
Naftan have not disclosed any option to extend beyond the current deal, leaving open the possibility that Mafwenta could become a free agent again at the end of his contract period on 11/02/2027. How he performs in the Vysheyshaya Liga over that span will likely shape whether his next step is a longer stay in Belarus, a move to another European league, or a return closer to home.
