LWANDAMINA TO UNLEASH NEW GUNS

Zambia national under 20 coach George’ Chicken’ Lwandamina has named a relatively unknown squad for this years COSAFA under-20 Championship which will take place from 31st November 28, 2007 to 9thdecember 2007 in South Africa.
Canada experience
Zambia national under-20 soccer team will play its first game after participating at the world youth cup in Canada in July. At the canada2007 the young Chipolopolo surprised many by reaching the last 16 were they were knocked out by Nigeria. The young Chipolopolo played champagne football at the championship as they drew with Jordan, lost narrowly to Spain and defeated Uruguay before losing to Nigeria and with such a background many soccer pundits believe they are the favourites for the tournament as they were the only team from the region to rub shoulders with Manchester united’s Spanish defender Gerald Pique and Seville’s winger Capel who is been featuring regularly for his side la liga and champions league.

Golden Generation
But unfortunately ninety percent of the squad that featured at the world youth cup are not part of the COSAFA squad. Surving from the golden generation of 2007 is hard tackler full back Joseph Zimba, Richard Sakala, wonder boy Emmanuel Mayuka, Simon Lupiya and Reading fc trialists Stophira Sunzu. The backbone of class of 2007 is no longer there and missing from the squad is Jacob Banda, Henry Nyambe, Dennis Banda, Goodson Kachinga, Richard Phiri, Sebastian Mwansa, Clifford Mulenga, Justine Zulu, Rogers Kola and African Youth Cup top Scorer Fwayo Tembo. To the class of 07 they were truly a fantastic side as for the incoming gems Lwandamina and his technical bench knows better but never bet against ‘chicken’. Lwandamina is using the championship to expose the young guns for next years qualifiers for the African Youth Cup as they will be the ones involved as most of the golden generation will not eligible even though they are eligible to feature now. So to other COSAFA teams this should be good news for them but never trust Lwandamina when he says it’s a developmental squad.

New Guns
When Lwandamina named his squad, many players are uknown to most of the European fans whose allegiance belongs to arsenal, Manchester united, Barcelona, Real Madrid and many Zambian fans but to the real Zambian football fanatics names such as Kabwe warriors exciting winger Henry’cristiano Ronaldo’Banda, National Assembly’s Judge Mkandawire and Nchanga Rangers’ lanky defender Moses Mulambi are familiar. The other players to watch out for are midfield geniuses Nathan Sinkala (Andrew Sinkala’s young brother), Lawrence Pondani and diminutive Musonda Munaile. While in defence no nonsense Micheal katongo who has modeled his game as Zambia international defender Billy Mwanza should be a revelation alongside former international winger Andrew Tembo’s younger brother Luka. In Luka Tembo, Zambia can now boasts of a naturally left footed player occupying the left fullback position in 14 years at any level as the last left footed player to occupy the position was the late Whiteson Changwe who perished in Gabon disaster in 1993. Lwandamina who is ably assisted by Oswald Mutapa and Emmanuel Siwale can mastermind zambia’s new gems to glory as they look to bring the trophy back for a record eighth time.

Zambia plays its match against Angola on 1st December before battling out with Seychelles on 3rd and plays its last group game on 5th against Namibia young Brave warriors.

Goalkeepers: Noah Mwanza (TP Rangers), Philip Banda (National Assembly)

Defenders: Joseph Zimba, Richard Chibwe (Both Red Arrows), Moses Mulambi (Nchanga Rangers), Michael Katongo (Kabwe Warriors), Luka Tembo (Lusaka Dynamos).

Midfielders: Mathews Chipampe (Profund Warriors), Judge Mukandawire (Young Arrows), Henry Banda (Kabwe Warriors), Nathan Chintu (South African based), Stophira Sunzu (Konkola Blades), Musonda Munaile (Young Zanaco), Lawrence Pondani (Red Arrows), Nathan Sinkala (Lusaka Celtic).

Striker: Derrick Mwansa (Nkwazi), Oswald Siwale (Zamtel FC), Daniel Banda (Nantes FC), Emmanuel Mayuka (Kabwe Warriors), Simon Lupiya (Red Arrows)