Player Ratings: Morocco 3-0 Zambia
- Thursday, November 20, 2008, 10:30
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From a fan who watched the entire match and updated the site (together with Whisper) via a live text takes a look at how the Chipolopolo Boys performed individually on the night. Below is what a fan calling himself Mr. Zambia thought…And click here to watch the highlights
Kalililo Kakonje (Amazulu, RSA) – Good game with some sharp saves. Let down by some shocking defending and little he could do about both goals one which was deflected and the other which was a free point blank header though he could have done better on the third goal. Penalties are always a lottery and this time Kakonje got it wrong- 7/10
Joseph Musonda (Golden Arrows, RSA) -Terrible game. Don’t see why he is still in the national team set up. Had a shocker and was responsible for both goals (the penalty and failed to prevent the cross that led to the third goal)- 1/10
Elijah Tana (Nchanga Rangers) – The ageing defender failed reactive quickly for the third goal but otherwise he had an average game but was unable to steady the ship along with the others in the back line. Some good forward play and a few shots. Was definitely the best defender wearing a white shirt on the night – 5/10
Hichani Himonde (Lusaka Dynamos) - Finally his record of not having on the losing end has been broken whenever he has been in the starting line-up. Didn’t do much to impress- 3/10
Whisper’s analysis
All three goals were preventable. Two came about because our full-backs have been unable to make a tackle and have been dribbled and the other one was a crazy tackle in the box leading to a penalty.
I don’t know where to start guys. We were soundly beaten, in the end the Morocco players were just passing it around, with our guys chasing.
Renard made stupid substitutions and took off all our attacking threat, in the end we had no shape and no desire.
Collins did well when he came on, his strength caused a couple of anxious moments for them. Hachipuka did well. Sakuwaha is a revelation. Clifford looked dangerous when he was on. Rainford was alright, it looked a bit congested in the middle and he might have done better if we had moved one of our midfielders up front. Jacob was a threat, with his size and pace. It isn’t something that happens often in football but our Capt. Chris should have been subbed. He seemed more intent on fighting them than playing football. Chris is always going to try and that is a great quality to have, but I don’t think tonight was his night.
As for the defence, well…
Noah Chivuta (Supersport United, RSA) - Like Tana had an average game but nothing to write home about. Maybe Renard should have used him in midfield not in defence as he is not a defender though in home matches where the team does most of the attacking he can play as a makeshift left back. Impressive at times -5/10
Rainford Kalaba (Gil Vicente fc, Portugal) –Zambia’s man of the match in Mr. Zambia’s ( the author of these Player Ratings) opinion. Was a real threat in the first half and controlled the midfield well with Katongo. He was replaced by Emmanuel Mayuka in the second half – 7/10
Clifford Mulenga (BidVest Wits, RSA) – Back in the Chipolopolo fold after a being left out of the Germany tour and Togo match. The 21 year old was enterprising and skilful. Fitted in very well with the team and caused the Moroccan defenders some problems in the first half. Was quiet afterwards and didn’t really add anything else. It seemed when the team went to sleep so did Clifford and they stopped thiking they could win- 6/10
Kebby Hachipuka (Green Eagles)- The only holding midfielder in a 17 man squad. The 20 year old had a steady game and was cautioned in the first half- 4/10
Chrs Katongo (Arminia Bielefed, Germany) – Played well but was taken out of the game by playing too deep in the 4-5-1 formantion and constantly been fouled. He failed to close in the Moroccan midfielder for the first goal.
I think the Germany move has been very bad for Chris who wasn’t the player we know him to be. At club level, the 26 year old has been frozen out on the right wing- 6/10
Jonas Sakuwaha (Zesco United) –Two weeks ago, if one told him that he will be in the starting line-up against the Arabs he could have called you insane. After impressing in the Congo friendly match on Saturday, the pacy and lanky forward earned himself a place was thrust into the thick of things after the withdraw of Fwayo Tembo. On the night Sakuwaha was impressive at times but wasteful and lacked the killer ball.- 5/10
Jacob Mulenga (Chateauroux, France)- He was a real live wirer through the first half carrying the fight to the Moroccans. Was great to see but pity he didn’t get a goal to cap an otherwise good display. He was mainly cut off as Katongo dropped to much- 6/10
Used Subs:
Collins Mbesuma went on Jacob Mulenga- Held up the ball well upfront but wasn’t a threat
Davies Nkausu in – Noah Chivuta out
Chintu Kampamba in –Elijah Tana out
Emmanuel Mayuka in- Rainfor Kalaba out
Felix Sunzu Jr in – Jonas Sakuwaha out
All the substitutes failed to stamp their authority on the match.
Unused Sub: Francis Kasonde
About the Author
Zamfoot has written 1962 stories on this site.
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Great info Zamfoot, I appreciate such info especially that I did not watch the game . All those who blamed Tana even when you did not watch the game look at the defenders ratings then you will know why any coach who has watched Tana play can not afford to ignore him despite his age factor.
The rating for J. Musonda is rather too bad for a player that he is even on a bad day but I still want to believe the rating was objective.
Ba Nkana we failled to beat the bankers even after taking an early lead our chances of survival are now even more mathermatical.
Zamfoot or some one who knows our ZPL fixtures ,give me infor on opponents of Nkana for the remaining league games PLEASE.
whats the way forward for zambia,,,i guess more friendlies and more players should be tried out during these same friendlies.its not just qaulifying to the world cup,but coming with a formidble team that can stand the likes of brazil and italy,if we cant then lets forget it
Thanks Zamfoot.
Eyeee ba Zambia. Bulanda bwekabweka
having watched the highlights, keeper was off his line in first and second goal, our number 4 was was at fault for the penalty and the third game, where he was turned inside out before that cross. Its just a friendly people.
i’m having trouble viewing the goals from my PC, help
So our worst performers came from defence including the celebrated defensive midfielder Hachipuka.
It appears on the local football team, only Zesco United and Power Dynamos are doing well of all teams from CB. The rest Nchanga, Nkana, Chambeshi, Roan and Konkola are in trouble and some risk relegation. Iyo chashupa kuma clubs yaku mine ku CB. What really is the problem? It is funding? Somebody with some insights?
Ba Wille, mwalasa. I like your line of thought. We seem to have same opinions on most football issues in Zambia. We have no choice but to move ahead with what we have. We can improve. Aluta continua.
Ba Wille. Yeh,our pool is really small. But it would do us alot of good if we gave chance to other players who have shown consistency and are performing at their clubs.
I do agree with you, some of the players who are professionals still dont make the grade for our team as has been seen in some of the guys who are currently featuring as guest players. But some are exceptional.
HR should take time to have a look at these guys whilst they in the country.
Great analysis & rating Mr.Zambia & Whisper.After checking out the highlights i feel J.Musonda had a bad day at the office.Just like he did the last time we played Morocco & Tunisia in friendly games early this year.
Billy what surprises me is that if you take for example Nchanga Rangers, they are being sponsored by KCM, and the same KCM pays the National coach HR 20,000 Dollars, they sponsored the ZPL at one time and yet Nchanga Rangers, Blades etc have problems. I know it is OK they are paying the national coach, but I for one would first start by feeding my own children before extending my hand to others. The fact is KCM is making a lot of money but what they pumping into clubs is a just a drop in the ocean
Anyway maybe it is management that is pocketing the money from sponsors. This is just my opinion
Ba willie, funds are perhaps the biggest problems facing our game today, the demise of the mines have cut the life line of the clubs, we got too used to the idea of hand outs and as long as our teams do not become self reliant, we will always face these problems, look at zamsure, nkana, these were big teams, mighty and where are they now? the world is now a global village therefore all things must conform to international standards, corporate governance and risk management must been inculcated into our football administrators. Most of our administrators are there to make a quick buck and hence things are were we are today
Ba Wille, I can understand you point football is collective whether in loss, win or draw. I know friendly games are played to gauge the teams strength and ratification of any errors arising therefrom, however after watching the highlights of last nights game and the other game that we lost 2-0 to the same team and I do not see any improvement. The same errors we committed in the 2-0 bushing were the same errors that were committed in lastnights demolishing of us by the Morocco, and to make matters worse the same person as from last time was involved. He should learnt from last time, it seems he has not and I am sure if we play Morocco again this Sunday the same error will be committed. All the 3 goals that Morocco scored were because of lose marking on the part of Zambian players. The lads should learn to give in 100% when playing for Zambia. In morden football if you start making primary school errors to the likes of Morocco, Cameroon, you will get punished. You have to concerntrate from the word word until the referee blows the pintu that the game is over
Mabbwana I agree with the point, that HR should look at some of these guys for it does not do any harm to look at these players and see what they can do, however I do not think that MR. HR will do that, the fact is that deep in his heart he does not care at all as he has nothing to loose. We need to train our own local coaches and pay them decently I am sure they can deliver. Egypt have a local coach and yet they are African champions, Keshi took Togo to the World Cup, just the like guy from Angola
Phanx we beat Tunisia at their home 2-1 in a friendly game before AFCON, Tunisia and drew with Egypt at AFCON. Something has gone wrong and soon it will come out. Maybe the players should allowed to say what their meanings
Ba Wille dont get what I said twisted. Yes, it is not at all good to single out a particular player for blame. As a collective unit, the defence was not good. Hachipuka has been wiidely hailed as the next John lungu or Andrew Sinkala. Defennsive midfield for a long time has been a problem area for us. Reason I mentioned him is that he seemed to be a solution and yet according to the stats he came short, not that he caused the loss, NO!!
He being part of the defence,together with the rest of the defence were the one department that performed the worst or the least best followed by the striking dept then the midfield.
I agree with most blogmates here that HR is to stubborn and arrogance. I am sure even in the next game, he is gonna use the same players. For sure he does not care. He is not Zambian, he is french. If we dont make it to WC 2010, he will be there watching France, his country provided France qualifies which I believe they’ll do.
The Zambian national soccer team is a national property and we as soccer fans are stake orders. So HR should take advice. I still believe that we can improve provided there is that flexibility on the part of the coaching staff and faz. I also support the idea of psyching the national team players prior to big games as mentioned by some guys on the blog. Umwenso, once remember in the Careroun game at afcon in Ghana, Hachilensa was watching instead marking him and focussing his attention on the ball. Shame. Our players need to have confidence irrespective of opponents, good attitude and to be proud of wearing that chipolopolo jersey. I like the nigerian spirit, these guys never ceases to amaze.
It was just a friendly and the boys did not train together. You can’t be hiring and firing coaches at the drop of the hat. Lets judge him at the end of the World Cup and afcon games. look at france, they kept the coach, Man U, Arsenel same coaches many years. I think Zambians have a talent in criticism and PHD
Ba Willie we do have a very big pool of players to pick from. Its the mindset that we have a very small pool of players that causes us to stick to the same players untill we are stuck with 35 year old defenders (Tana and Musonda). Yes, we need to shift our mindset and this not only applies to the coach and FAZ but to us fans as well. the heart to seek out players is just not there.
On Portugals loss I really do not see where you draw the comparison. To tell the truth it is a shock that Portugal lost by that margin but frankly not so much a shock we (Zammbia) lost by that margin, ask yourself why??
If next weekend portugal played Brazil again, the whole world will have it in thier hearts thatt the score can be reversed because it is possible but in our case and the way things are at the moment everybody would expect us to lose again, again ask yourself why?
We seriously need to employ a system to use performers and not names. We cant sit with this reasoning that these are the only players we have because these are not the only players we have we just refuse to use others. Beckam had to siign with another club to keep his england hope alive,, if it were here we would still use him even after three months of none performance. To bbe honest even Chris at this point should be a doubt for a first team spot. But as usuall we believe we dont have anybody else so we stick with him performing or not. Ba wille I hope you see my reasoning here. We have more players in the ZPL than England has english players in the premiership and yet they have a bigger pool.
Billy nice points coming out from you. The Frenchman needs to be adviced which i doubt if Chicken George does. I am preety sure the are boys in the local league who can play better on the Wings of Defence in our local league.What has happened to the W.Chinyama’s of this World?
Chamwe yes the boys did not train together so did the Moroccans.The guys train at their respective clubs.They also play football week in & week out at their clubs.Like Taj said earlier if we keep losing 3-0 some teams will think it is a waste to play friendly games with us.Not that we shouldn’t lose games but the defending we saw last night is just like the P.P era where we were told by P.P that things would change but nothing changed.
If HR & the team don’t do well the will always get a ’stick’ from the Fans.Thats the way it goes Wolrd Wide.The Press in Zed actually needs to put pressure on this Coach to keep him on his toes.Like you said if he fails to take the team to the World Cup then let him go.
Zambian players have a complex, which need to be addressed. Instead of attacking the opponents, they like cheering big names like: “etcho Etoo and Etcho Essien. How do expect to win when our stars call themselves Etoo, Essien, Drogba etc. This chimpobwa mentality must stop.
Big Steve I hear you thumbs up. All the points you have raised are 100% correct.
I do not either understand what Portugals loss has do with our National Soccer Team. I do not care if Portugal loose 10-0 to Brazil, because Portugal is not and will never be my country, that should be the problem of the Portugese fans. What I care about is my country Zambia, I have feelings for the country and that is why I would like to see them perform well, because that will make more happy and more proud
As for player selection, it is very true Big Steve that they should be picked on their current form. If I look at the team that played in Morocco, Nkausu, Chivuta, Mbesuma should not have been includen while Katong though playing at his club should have been excused due to poor form (with Kalaba or Jacob Mulenga being captain). In my opinion Edwin Phiri, Sinkala should have been included while Mweene and Fwayo Tembo should have been forced to join the team. Don’t we have an Embassy in Tunisia?
I wonder why Francis Kasonde did not play?
I have always thought of Moses Sichone as a midfielder than a defender
chamwe kaira ala wa nisekesa, wande pula
Justice i think Fwayo did no come cos of the Confedaration Cup Final on Sat between Etoile Du Sahel against Sfaxien.This Visa issue bufi belive me.
The Tunisian National team Coach did not selct any player from these teams cos of the same.Tunisia played last night without a player from thes e two teams.
Chipobwa metality yaba!!
Ba Zamfoot any word from Kalusha? We are still waiting for the answers to the questions we asked him. Please update us.
Thanks
Defence is the thing that will kill this Team! Can someone please tell me y a player who features on a regular basis for his team in the Swedish 1st division has not had a look by the coaching staff? seriously looking and thinking about it, i think the Swedish 1st didvision ir more competitive than than the SA 1st division……
Ba Wille,when we insist on HR to assess more players by extending an olive branch to the forgotten pros,we don’t mean to say that these pros are all perfect but there can be 2 or 3 that can be of great benefit to the current team.For example,I had a chance to pass through Kitwe for a short time last week & I watched Kunda & Chanda Mwaba in training at Arthur Davies.I think Chanda Mwaba can be that creative player we need in the box.He has the strength to hold the ball & has the ability to create & score goals.I had a chat with ex-Power 90 target man & now
assistant coach Linos Makwaza who likened Chanda’s style of play to that of Zeddy Saileti at his pick.I was not conviced on ‘Sockie’ Kunda coz he didn’t show much of the Stephen Kunda I knew sometime back.We are talking about poor defending & failure to score after the Morroco friendly so if FAZ & HR really want to make a formidable team,they should swallow their pride & assess Sinkala,Chanda,Boyd,Edwin,Sichone & other pros.Already to me Chanda Mwaba can be a revelation from the forgotten pros.Who knows maybe 3 more guys from them can be the players we require??
Here’s my two kwachas worth of thoughts:
Having spied the highlights, the Zambian goalie was culpable on the first and third goals. He simply didn’t react. Both the late, great, Effie Chabala & Ghost Mulenga, not to mention James Phiri, would have saved those efforts.
I disagree with the notion that Chris Katongo’s move to Germany has been bad for his game. For goodness sake, the Bundesliga is light years ahead of the Danish League. Chris is a regular in Germany and who cares if his club has him stuck on the wings?
Not all internatinonals play in the same position for club and country. Do you know that Charles Musonda was a defensive midfielder for Anderlecht, yet was a playmaker for Zambia?
Essien, too, has a freer, attacking role with Ghana yet is primarily a defensive midfielder for Chelsea.
What HR and his stubborn FAZ employers need to to is recall Sinkala in midfield. We need two and in some cases, like when we play away to Egypt, three ball winners in midfield. FAZ needs to swallow it’s petty pride, recall Sinkala and Sichone, push Tana in midfield with Sinkala and a third ball winner and have Sichone with his height play at the back with Himonde and two decent fullbacks.
Football is about mixing and matching. Anyone can coach, managing and coming up with a balanced squad and good tactics is the hard part.
Cheers.
KK11 just imagine Mudala.I believe we have the defenders & we can even make what can be one of the most solid defence line in Africa. The problem we have is the way we pair our defenders & lack of recognition of the importance of experience experience especially in central defence.England have Ferdinand & Terry,Cameroun have Song,Ghana have Mensah,the KK 11 had Estone Mulenga,Ashios Melu & Chomba.HR should look into this & try out a few partnerships with a combination of experience.We have heard that Sichone is a regular at his club why not try to partner him with either Chintu,Billy,HH or even Tana??? & see how it works out.The Morocco game proved that the strength of the North Africans (Arabs) lies in their ability to attack from the wings.Chivuta is a natural ball distributor but has no defending skills to block the Arabs as a full back.In his position, HR should try out a natural full back like Edwin Phiri or Nkausu & reserve Chivuta for teams like Rwanda who are not effective like the Arabs in the wings.Musonda always get punished by the Arabs b’coz he likes overaping and he fails to catch them on counter attacks b’coz of their speed.The only game he managed to hold the Arabs was at the 2008 AFCON when he reduced on overlaping & concetrated on his defending role.The rest of the games he has played aganist the Arabs involving Algeria’s JS Kabyle & Esperance of Tunisia during his days at Zanaco, the Morocco friendly in January & yesterday’s game Muzo has been the main culprit.He can come out better if he keeps to the defending role like he did at the AFCON game agaist Egypt.
Interesting analysis from a lot of bloggers, I’m enjoying reading through the different contributions.
I agree with Chamwe Kaira. I have never been a fan of our players using nicknames of other players (especially current players). They have to have the self-belief that they can compete at this level and not hero-worship their opponents.
I agree with Jagarri. The keeper was suspect and we missed Mweene in that position. We need to re-organise this team and rope in more defensive players like the Sinkalas, otherwise, our defence will always be leaking. They need protection. Then Katongo Chris can have more space and attack forward .
We have always said it here that Renard needs guidance with player selection. FAZ must hav much more say until Renard sees all our players or rather confident with what he has. Otherwise, I do not see us going anyay. From the highlights, our players were not serious at all with some loose marking and that cost us a lot.
The problem is:
1. FAZ is crap
2. FAZ have given crap to the coach, and therefore
3. The coach, HR, is crap too.
LOL
ive looked at the last goal, the tall defender wearin number 6 i think is to blame then the goalkeeper was very bad
coach do something with the defence!
number 4 was the worst player on that team, cant really blame him. no goals from the strikers
Morocco v Zambia.
First , iam happy that Zambia lost by such a magine, second it shows that FAZ are living in a dream world,thirdly HR is also a non starter,he is chancing on a team that Patrick Phiri built and is still using the same old formats 4.4.2 .In the world cup and Africa cup we are up against EGYPTY who are better than Morrocco ? so why are we paying HR $ 20,000.00 plus his physical trainer another little someting? like polictics football is a fools dream world, we always believe we could win PBWAT and now we believe we could go to the world cup….the matches will be rigged!!!!
Guys at the top discussing names, young, old, form and trying out players. I want to say to you that no one is right. Everything is a fine line and balance. If you try out every single player there is no team chemistry at the end of the day, If you have don’t experience then you don’t have experience etc etc… Balance my friends. I think Mr. Renard should just do what he wants and no one should interfere.
It’s not a good result. Right now there is no confidence in our squad, and not even the fans believe in the players and the coach. The players and the coach, i hope they know, they of all people understand how confidence will affect them and how you can turn it around and get it back. Fortune favors the brave. Let’s go Zambia into the future.
ba zamfoot Jonas Sakuwaha was wearing jersey # 20 but am sure thats the guy fan # 1 wants to know. # 12 Was responsible for the 1st goal