December 7, 2008
KCM Premier League and Barclays Cup champions Zesco United duo of Enoch Sakala and Kondwani Mtonga has been called up by Chipolopolo Boys coach Herve Renard to the squad which regrouped on Sunday afternoon ahead of this weekend’s CHAN second leg qualifier against Angola.
mtomga-sakala
L-R: Jonas Sakuwaha, Kondwani Mtonga, Rodgers Kamwandi & Enoch Sakala celebrating Zesco’s Barclays Cup triumph on Saturday @ Woodlands Stadium.
While Sakala is making a return to the national set up after a nine months absence this is Mtonga’s first call up. This season Sakala who is also the Zesco United vice captain has failed to live up to expectation after just netting six goals in all competition including three from the spot-kick as opposed to 24 goals he got in the 2007 season.
As for Mtonga, he has been thrust into the engine room by Coach Wedson Nyirenda to fill the void left by Portugal based maestro Rainford Kalaba. In contrast to Kalaba’s play making skills and goal threat, Mtonga is a holding midfielder and has the physical presence.
After Green Eagles’ midfielder Kebby Hachipuka below par performance against Morocco on November 19, 2008, Renard is believed to be searching for an anchorman in time for Zambia’s 2010 African/World Cup qualifier against Egypt in March.
Against Angola, Hachipuka who was slowly being dubbed by the ‘new John Lungu’ by many pundits started on the bench as the Frenchman handed 2007 World Youth Cup group stage star William Njobvu is first starting berth since injuring his knee in the 1-0 loss against Botswana in March.
Meanwhile Sakala is seen as Rodger Kola’s replacement. Kola who is in the country after a three weeks stint at Swedish side Helsingborg is believed to be not taking calls from national team manager Daniel Jere.
“I have been trying to call Kola but he has been picking up my call. So the coach has decided to hand Enoch Sakala a call-up,” Jere said.
Sakala made his international debut against Namibia last year and capped it with a brace to hand the Chipolopolo Boys a 2-0 win.
99 Comments on "Two Zesco Utd players earn Chipolopolo call-up"
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monk police on Sun, 7th Dec 2008 8:45 PM
That is good team ya ziko players though I was hoping he could also call some defenders.
Am also wondering why Kola would decide not to pick up calls?
All the best Renard and the rest of the team
Seen from afar on Sun, 7th Dec 2008 8:54 PM
Let’s not jump on this Kola thing, there maybe a very reasonable explanation.
P Borg on Sun, 7th Dec 2008 9:09 PM
Comment DeletedMatafwali on Mon, 8th Dec 2008 3:11 AM
Seen From Afar, I was prepared to make a comment as I read through the article, but I will follow your advice and give Kola the benefit of the doubt.
Congratulations to Zesco and specifically to their players Sakala and Mtonga for their call up to the National team.
Njovu as a holding midfielder? He did not cross me as having the ideal size for that position. At the very least, I’m glad Sinkala is being considered back in the fold. Given the circumstances (though FAZ have not acknowledged it yet) that surrounded the visit to Morocco, I hope Renard is not giving up on Hachipuka just yet. Clearly, the whole team under-performed.
Mr./Ms. P. Borg, if you are serious, you may need to get in touch with the clubs directly. I’m sure if you worked out an agreement that would guarantee payment should the player(s) make it to the next level, I’m sure they’d be willing.
Bantu on Mon, 8th Dec 2008 7:25 AM
P Borg, take your madness elsewhere.
Big Steve from SA on Mon, 8th Dec 2008 8:08 AM
I am keeping my fingers crossed that the Kola issue has a good reason behind it.
Two more faces in the team is good. Its signs that the coach is looking at increasing his pool size. The more the merrier and congrats to Sakala and Mtonga for making the team.
I hope Hachipuka does not turn out to be a one game wonder or that the coach is aready considering throwing in the towel after just one bad perfromance.
Amuna Onzuna on Mon, 8th Dec 2008 9:38 AM
Im sure Kola wont disappoint the funs until he moves to Sweden permanently.International matches like these ones are good for his to get that recognition.The more capped he is,the more advantages he has to play even in the UK.Please ,remind him of Stophira Sunzu’s aborted more to Reading Football club of England.
The Mwine on Mon, 8th Dec 2008 2:26 PM
Good job Zesco, Just point of correction Kondwani Mtongo is Zamtel Fc player and Jonas sakuwaha is also former Zamtel fc player we got them from kafue the even brot Zamtel from division 2 to premier, all the best lads viva zambia
Ba dala on Mon, 8th Dec 2008 2:32 PM
pupu = borg.
chama zemadola. on Mon, 19th Jan 2009 9:50 PM
I dont really agree on the two call-ups cos they dont have the muscle to withstand the heat on the battle field,kondwani is not a midfilder physically,i really dont think they deserve call-ups unless someone in FAZ was benefiting directly from these call-ups.its a shame that andrew sinkala cannot just feature for zambia just because somebody in FAZ is against that idea and i should think our football is not going anywhere
cos of the jealousy and stubborness of our soccer administrater.
by the way i read in one the major zambian newspapers,someone a die hard manchester supporter was busy criticising kalusha on the photo that he took with cristiano ronaldo that he should kkep such photos at home for his children and not for public consumption,i couldnt believe it, i dont know why we are addicted to the bring-him-down-symdrome the man did that for zambia yet we cant appreciate it,i m not a manchester supprter nor do i support ronald,i m a die hard real madrid/zescolo fanatic but i was inspired by the picture,that one of own is taking a photo with the world footballer of the year up close ,give kalu a break and lets support him.
we wiill never support our own if it was renard or muhamend fithy doing that we would have called him a hero lets support our own.
uncle bobs on Wed, 21st Jan 2009 11:32 PM
Ba Chama Zemandola,
I agree with you that the story about Kalu greeting CR7 was written in bad taste. Maybe it was even CR7 that went up to Kalu. Kalu is already an icon and doesn’t need to stand next to CR7 for the sake of a NOUN (like we would say it)!!!
However i beg to differ with you that Kalu did it for Zambia, how? I just can’t understand that one can see it from this angle. Kindly educate me how Kalu standing with CR7 benefited Zambia. Guys let’s set our priorities right and not lower our aspirations. I recently greeted JOE THOMAS the singer when he came to Tanzania simply because i appreciate his music and KK to apologise for having voted against him in 1991!! I don’t think i can claim that i did it for Zambia.Awe Bane, we can do better than this!!!