Q & A: Njobvu Answers ur Questions
William Njobvu rose to stardom at the 2007 World Youth Cup in Canada after playing all the four matches Zambia played. At the junior championship, the 21 year old displayed his versatility by in playing at centre back as well as in midfield.
Zambianfootball.net columnist Travis Mills interviewing William Njobvu on Thursday last week.
Njobvu has shown that he is Zambia’s only box to box engine operator who has a penchant for a tackle and goal. After a dip in-form due to niggling knee injury, ‘The Magician’ is back in the Chipolopolo Boys squad. The Lusaka Dynamos ace has been named in a 25 man provisional squad for Chan qualifier against Angola.
Below are the answers you asked the midfielder in his own words
.
Chamwe kaira, in Windhoek, Namibia
William, why don’t Zambian players make it with big teams in Europe like the West Africans?
First of all it starts with the agents. Mostly they want t
he Zambian players straight away to get big deals in Europe of which most of us (players) don’t have the experience to play there yet like our counter parts in west Africa.
I personally think, it’s better to start with smaller teams and get the experience. I really believe that could be the best route to a bigger European club as opposed to joining
straight away.
Big Steve from SA
William, going by Zambia’s exploits in Canada, do you believe that more of that crop of players should be abroad than the numb
er that has actually gone? and if you do what do you think has stopped this from happening?
Apart from those four, I think we could have added a lot more going to Europe but again due to lack of agents a lot of us haven’t yet moved. Some players have agents in Europe but those agents would rather take the players to big clubs because they benefit more financially as compared when one clinches a deal with a smaller team.
So it goes back to the agents.
Anonymous
William, Looking back at your the world youth cup, you played as a center back alonside Dennis Banda when Nyambe was suspended and at LD i have noticed you being used on the flanks.
What do you think is your best position? And don’t you think that your versitility has hindered from playing in your best
position?.
I enjoy playing as an offensive midfielder but that doesn’t bother me alot. I will my best at whatever position the coach instructs me to play.
In fact, versatility gives me more confidence that I can do it anywhere on the field. It doesn’t really affect my type of play.
DaMwiinger
You have so far proved to us fans that
you have the potential to make it big in your career. This has been the case with most Zambian players but we often get disappointed because most of them just go into oblivion. What assurance can you give us that you won’t take the same route?
I think that goes with discipline. If players apply 100% commitment and discipline then there cannot be such kind of stories. We (players) just have to stay focused an
d if one really know what he wants as a footballer player.
If you set some goals and dreams, I don’t really see one messing around or indulging himself into stuff that might ruin his career.
Vincent Numbwa
William,How do you rate our chances of going to the world cup?
In football nowadays chances are 50/50 and I don’t see Zambia as an underdog. We can do it (qualify for 2010 WC) as long as we the players take it personal …take
it into our own hands , lets not fear the big names the likes of Egypt will be bringing. We have a bigger chance if we play our game and to the best of our ability.
Georgia Russia
if not mistaken your were supposed to go to france or rather did u go.what happened while u were in france,was it the price tag.tell me some of the challenges faced when attending trials in europe
Yes I did go to France last year at Rennes where Felix (Katongo is on the books of Rennes but is currently on a seasonal loan at ligue 2 side Chateauroux) is now.
My first challenge (at Rennes) was that the players and coaching stuff couldn’t speak any English so it was hard for me to settle down. So basically language barrier is biggest obstacle most of us players face.
I trained for nine days there and I did well. At
the end of the trials they said they were looking for someone with experience and that’s how I wasn’t signed.
Zamfoot: So what happened, did you train with the first team?
I initially trained with the reserves (youth team) for the first two days. It was a tricky start and I thought I impressed. And for the last five days I was given the chance
to train with the first team.
Dinamo
Q1.William, there has been a lot of talk amongst fans on the need to blend experienced players like Sinkala & young players in what fans believe can be a formidable national team.As a young player,do you support this idea?,& if yes,which experienced players do you think can add value to the current national team? Q2.As a young player,what lessons did you learn at the 2007 FIFA World Cup & the AFCON?
I would say it’s okay if we were to blood youth with experience. Experience does contribute a lot but at the end of day it’s up to the coach.
On the inclusion of the veterans, I haven’t seen much of these guys off late so wouldn’t I want X or Z to be included.
Lessons from WYC & AFCON
One of the most important things I learnt playing at the World Youth Cup and African Cup of Nations was that the playing at a fully packed stadium is more de
structive as compared to what I am used to in the local league matches.One has to be fully focussed to have a good game and I think that’s what most of the local players lack. If only our stadia can be filled to capacity on weekly basis then it will be a little bit easier to play in North and West Africa.
Guess who they are?...L-R: Travis, Alex The Dreamer, Mabbwana & Dinamo. The quartet linked up at Lusaka’s Nkoloma Stadium at watched Green Buffaloes v Kabwe Warriors.
Mabbwana
William, Lusaka Dynamos has had a mixed season in terms of results & some inconsistency on the coaching bench. What impact has the changing of coaches had on you as a player & the team as a whole?
I am not usually affected with changes at the club, whether I am playing under an average coach or good coach…I always try to give my best and remain the same player. But I think it is more destructive to the team as a unit.
Seen from afar
We’ve seen the deal with Supersport being inplemented this year in the league, have you noted an improvement in standards all round, and what else do you think could done to improve the league?
You tried out for the Cosafa senior team this year, what are your impressions of this experience under coach Renard?
All we need now is good playing fields. Bad playing fields really destruct our flow of game. If we have good playing fields, it will be good for our game as most Zambian clubs like passing the ball on the ground.
It’s also good that Supersport is televising the local league across the continent. This is giving us the players the exposure.
Impression of Herve Renard
I trained for two days with national team prior to the Togo match but I would really say much concerning the coach. But from what I saw he looked to me as a v
ery good coach and as players the key thing is to pay attention to what he says.
Kapunda
William, what are your future hopes for your career? and what do you think the Senior team should do together with yourself t
o qualify to South Africa 2010 and Angola 2010?
My future plans are that in the next transfer window I move abroad and hopefully realize my dream of playing abroad. I know if I can change environment by going
abroad, it will help me develop my game.
In Zambia, we do lack training facilities and equipment…I think if I go abroad ‘am going to improve my standard of play.
Jayda
Which Zambian player do you look upto in the current national team? Who has been your idol?
Njobvu which player would you sin
gle out as the your toughest opponent in the local league?
And finally the season is coming to an end, Which player deserves to win this year’s Zambian Player of the Year?
I have liked the way Rainford (Kalaba) plays. It’s almost the type of play that I always want to have were you accelerate and very aggressive.
Flash back: Travis posing for a photo with Justine Zulu, Emmanuel Mayuka & Nyambe Mulenga in Canada last just after the Junior Chipolopolo Boys were eliminated in the last-16.
And who do you think is the best trainer in the national team?
Felix Katongo is the best trainer. He takes training very serious. While Chintu (Kampamba) likes cracking jokes a lot. Isaac is the most serious and he has a temper (Njobvu laughs). As for Chris (Katongo) is simply the leader. He usually encourages new call ups a lot and likes talking to the younger ones.
Role Model
My Idol is Kaka (AC Milan and Brazil midfielder)… I always like the way he plays.
On the local scene, I have always admired Andrew Sinkala. His calmness when under pressure is sometimes unbelievable.
Toughest opponnet in the league & Player of the Year
I really don’t know because ‘am kind of a mobile player. Basically I have come across different kinds of opponents.
On the player of the year I can’t single out anyone. I think this year no one has really been the top dog like Kalaba last year.
L-R: Alex, Mabbwana, Dinamo, Travis & FAZ Communications officer Erick Mwanza at Nkoloma Stadium after the Green Buffaloes v Kabwe Warriors match.
Ba Wille
Interesting hearing of william. how do you compare your past with your future coz of late you have not been in the best form? Do you see yourself regaining your seemingly lost form and thereby joining your fellow lads like mayuka, kola and sunzu in coach renard’s plan? Why do you think Lusaka Dynamos are eventually perfoming well, do you the arrival of simukonda at dunamos has planted a new face to the club? all the best young man.
In due time, I will regain the form I had before my knee injury. Yes, I agree that I have did lose my form…I am the biggest critic of myself but I think through my confidence and commitment to do well I slowly regaining my form. And to all my fans, I want to assure that I’m pushing myself to attain that level pretty soon.
Fighton Simukonda influence
After the arrival of ‘Big Figh’ (Simukonda), things have changed a bit because he is a mature person and he really knows how to talk to players on a one to one basis.
Ba Ole Says:
William, did you believe that you could make it to the National Team when you were playing football at the UNZA grounds or “Social” back in the days? What made it succeed while many of your friends who play there are still stuck?
(He laughs)…first of all whenever you are starting something you should have a vision.
In the beginning I wouldn’t say I knew I was going to play for the Chipolopolo Boys but later on Chiparamba (youth team he played for at UNZA grounds) gave me a vision after taking me to Europe. I started believing in myself…to believe that I can also play in the National Team.
Mulekwata Amano
1.How far have you gone in terms of education?
2.Where and when did you start playing football?
You appear very disciplined on the pitch which is very commendable.
3.Are you married and how many children?
(He smiles…as Travis Mills encourages him to answer the question) I am not married and I don’t have a kid yet.
On Education, I was at Munali Boys high school in Lusaka and completed in 2003 but it was a type of thing where by one is being pushed. I think I would like to go back because I know there are somethings I need to work on.
I never played for the school team because of my commitments at Chiparamba were we had a tight training schedule.
Spaks Says:
William you are a great player and i see you going places only if you are disciplined and focused, my questions are
1. Who is your role model
2. Are you disciplined and focussed?
3. What are your weaknesses on and off the pitch
4. If you wanted to see a change in Zambian football, what would it be?
My role model is Kaka (AC Milan and Brazil star)
I really don’t know my weakness on the field but I think now that I just returned from an injury I tend to tire up towards the end of the game though I don’t lose my concentration even if ‘am tired (he emphasizes).
My strength is the ability to take on a defender and passing a killer pass to a striker as well as pin-point crosses.And also my pace.
Change in Zambian football
I would ask the ‘Zambian agents’ to change. They want to get rich instantly by asking for a lot of money. I feel they are killing the game.
chilewe
Wlliam,given the right conditions,would you rather play in the local league than a foreign one? what are your thoughts on how zambian football in all aspects has developed upto now? were do you see yourself in this regard?what would you like to contribute to it & hence make a mark for years to come & beyond your playing days?
I will choose a foreign league over the local one. I have grown up now, I don’t see it (Zambian league) very challenging now. I can’t tell if it has developed or not.
Basically If I was to be part of a Lusaka Dynamos team that would the CAF Champions League to Zambia then that will be great.
Romantic Monk
1. we hear alot about age cheating by the under 17, 20, 23. what is your comment, is this true?
2. any hopes for you to go to europe as a proffessional?
3. give us your ideal zambia national team line up, including coaches and subs?
4. why do zambian players fail to go to bigger teams in europe?
My Best XI at the moment is
…………………………….…Kennedy Mweene….
…Joseph Musonda……Hichani Himonde…Chintu Kampamba…Noah Chivuta
…Felix Katongo…William Njobvu…Kebby Hachipuka…Rainford Kalaba
……..Chris Katongo…..Collins Mbesuma…
Subs: Kalililo Kakonje, Billy Mwanza, Isaac Chansa, Rodger Kola, Fwayo Tembo.
Coach: George ‘Chicken’ Lwandamina
Bola Panshi Says:
Most of the questions I had have already been stated above.
1st; Which is your dream club? (The club that you wish to play for, locally or internationally).
2nd; Looking back, which or who would you say have really helped you get to where you are and what you are now?
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