Zambian Players Abroad – Felix & Zulu return from injury (08.12.08)
Germany
Arminia Bielefeld were at home to Borussia Dortmund, with Chris Katongo starting the match on the bench (second match in a row he has started from the bench). With the scored level after the first-half, and into the second-half, The Tsunami came on in the 76th minute with hopes to give his team the offensive spark they needed. His influence down the right hand-side was limited as the game seemed destined for a goalless draw.
The deadlock was nearly broken in the 84th minute when Katongo sent a perfectly weighted through ball to striking partner Artur Wichniarek, however the in-form Polish forward was caught in an off-side position. The match finished 0-0, giving Bielefeld the point they needed to move one spot out of the relegation zone.
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FC Augsburg continued their impressive run of form with a 2-1 victory at SV Wehen. Andrew Sinkala continues to play well at his newly found position of central defender.
Augsburg went ahead just after the restart when Sinkala’s centre-back partner Uwe Mohrle headed in a cross from a free-kick. Five minutes later, the Bavarian side doubled their advantage with a Michael Thurk penalty conversion. The lone goal conceded was a late consolation goal in the 81st minute when a free-kick found a SV Wehen head in the box.
FC Augsburg have won 4 games in a row, and are unbeaten in 9 games, their last loss coming October 3rd. This is in stark contrast to the beginning of their campaign when they had 1 win in 8 matches and had lost 6 straight games. They now sit 7th in the table, 4 points from a promotion spot as the German Leagues near their winter break, which begins after next weeks fixtures.
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Another former national team member featured as central defender in Germany, Moses Sichone was in his normal position for 3rd division side VFR Aalen in their 1-1 away draw versus Fortuna Dusseldorf.
Aalen took the lead on the stroke of half-time, but could not close out the game, conceding an equalizer six minutes before the full-time whistle. The lone point allowed two teams to leapfrog Aalen, dropping them to 13th (out of 20) with two games left before the winter break.
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France
Jacob Mulenga was the lone striker for Berrichonne Chateauroux but was unable to generate enough offense against Nimes, the game finished in a 0-0 draw. Berrichonne played a 5-4-1 formation, leaving Mulenga to do it all on his own upfront. Countryman Felix Katongo returned from a minor injury on his left leg, coming on as a substitute to begin the second half. The points dropped might turn out to be vital down the road as Nimes are in dead-last, with Chateauroux 18th and in relegation position.
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Israel
Wonderkid Emmanuel Mayuka was in the starting lineup for Maccabi Tel Aviv in their showdown with Beitar Jerusalem. Maccabi played 4-4-2 formation, holding Beitar goalless. However Mayuka was unable to break the deadlock himself, and the match finished 0-0. The single point dropped the Tel Aviv squad to 9th out of 12 in the table.
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U-20 midfielder Justine Zulu’s club Hapoel Beer Sheva moved up to second in the Liga Leumit (second division) table with a 1-1 draw away to Hapoel Jerusalem FC.Zulu returned to the starting line-up after a four weeks lay-off with injury.
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Portugal
On-loan midfielder Rainford Kalaba was in the lineup for Gil Vicente as the escaped with a point at home to FC Vizela. The visitors went ahead through a 32nd minute penalty, but Gil Vicente answered back right at the death with a penalty conversion of their own, in the 92nd minute.
African Review to follow later…
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Not too bad a weekend.
No Zambian player was on a lsing team this week at least. Its not realy the best that some of our guys are walking the thin relegation line but it is good news that Mayuka is playing with the main team. Hope this continues. And Justin and Sinkala’s teams if they continue the good run could be playing top flight in their respective leagues. So Chris is not making first team now, hope this is just a phase and really hope they beat relegation.
Thank you very much for the updates. Keep it up! I, however, would like to find out what is happening with Boyd Mwila. Last time I heard of him, he was in Sweden. Please help.
Thanks Zamfoot as usual. Looks like Chris’ form is getting worse. This better change sooner rather than later
KN Douglas is history, he must in Zambia now, he was here even before Tembo and Miti arrived. I personally knew the chap as he was in the rebuilt team after Gabon at I was at Brøndby Stadium to give support at that time. Mwamba played in the reserves of Brøndby IF thru. out his 2 year stay in Denmark. I day while I was in Copenhagen I ran into the boy, and we had a chat whereby I advised him to find another club, he told me he had a Tanzanian agent working on that, ” I said what”. From that day I knew it was the end. He returned to Zed many years ago. He must be somewhere in Zambia
It’s a complex and interesting situation at Arminia Bielefeld i feel. There main striker is doing the buisness for them, but i think they are still in the process of experimenting to find the right chemistry. All this while they battle to stay out of relegation. I wouldn’t worry to much about Chris as they are certainly going need him. It’s interesting…
Not very good for Chris,it seems he has lost steam.Is it not time for Jacob mulenga to listern from other offers?,he has been at that club for too long.
Lets hope our boys start picking form now. The goals have stopped raining from Kalaba and Jacob? Looking forward to having Felix making big game performances now that his injury is past.
Thanks Zamfoot for update.
the results 4 weekend were not impressive. I’m however impressed with the performance of sinkala and his Germany team. that is why I have always insisted the he is the only trully experienced old player and not the likes of Sichone, Milanzi, Bakala, Hachilensa, Tana as some may want us to believe. These guys with the exception of Sinkala don’t deserve to be called to the national team. Let’s move on. These guys have had the opportunity to prove themselves but they have lamentably failed. Imagine the old rugged (tired) legs of tana, bakala, Hachilensa, Sichone, Milanzi playing against the fast running Egyptians? That would be too risky for us. So to Renard I’m asking you right now to recall Andrew Sinkala to the national team because he deserves a call up. the line up should be as follows:
Kennedy Mweene, Davies Nkausu, Nyambe Mulenga, Hichani Himonde, Chintu Kampampa (Billy Mwanza), Andrew Sinkala, James Chamanga (Isaac Chansa), Rainford Kalaba, Jacob Mulenga (Collins Mbesuma), Chris Katongo, Felix Katongo
Subs should be:
-Isaac Chansa for James Chamanga
-Collins Mbesuma for Jacob Mulenga
-Emmanuel Mayuka for Chris Katongo
-Hachipuka could either replace Sinkala, Kalaba or any other midfield position
Am happy to see and hear that Sinkala is still ticking at his club.This guy is a player I know can bring great difference to the current nation team.Evr since he was left out due to his sickness last year and the coming in of Renard.The strikers at national level are struggling to score,becoz he is a gud distributer of balls at midfield and he is able to hold the ball.Am happy that Renard has made up his mind to allow the guy to play for zambia again.Let him play not ubufi Renard,we need to beat Egypt at all cost if we are to realise our dreams of playing at world cup.
Thanx Zamfoot for the updates.I hope HR wont change his mind on Sinkala.We need to see if the guy can be that holding midfielder we are missing.