Howard Simon Mwikuta (20 June 1941 – 26 February 1988) was a Zambian footballer and coach who featured in the first Zambia national team at independence in October 1964.

Mwikuta was one of the first Zambians to play professional football abroad when he signed for American club Atlanta Chiefs in 1967, together with Emment Kapengwe and Freddie Mwila.

He also featured in the Zambian team that hosted Kenya, Uganda and Ghana during Zambia's independence celebrations in October of the same year.

[3] [5] After clarification of FIFA's recognition of the American league, Mwikuta left for Atlanta with Kapengwe, Mwila and Chief's scout Doug Sammons on 22 February 1967,[6] becoming the first Zambian players to play professional soccer abroad.

Mwikuta impressed Chiefs' coaching staff with his fitness, often waiting for the rest of the players to catch up during training runs.

Chief's assistant coach Vic Crowe once told him "We will have to start you running an hour ahead of time so that everyone is even when training begins.

He carried in his car a supply of soccer balls and through this interaction and word of mouth he had a following coaching football in Atlanta.

In mid-1969, Topic, an American monthly, carried an article covering Mwikuta's contribution to Atlanta and youth since moving there in February 1968.

He also conducted clinics for referees and linesmen and attended a mass Boy Scout Jamboree at Pine Mountain where he lectured on soccer and Zambia.