2008 Zamfoot Annual Awards

The Zamfoot Annual Awards will be presented to players who have been considered to have performed the best over the (2008) season

 

The criteria used to arrive at nominees for three categories; Zambian Player of the Year, Young Player of the Year and Revelation of the Year was simple;

The Zamfoot crew considered the player’s performance at both club and international level with a lot of emphasis on club form. On voting 50% of the votes will come from the sports journalists from various media organisation while the other 50% will come from the fans.

 

Zamfoot Annual Awards Zambian Player of the Year - Hichani Himoonde Jonas Sakuwaha Kennedy Mudenda view results // –>

 

Zamfoot Annual Awards Young Player of the Year Rodger Kola Henry Banda Nathan Sinkala view results // –>

 

Zamfoot Annual Awards Revelation of the Year Kebby Hachipuka Henry Banda Aubrey Zulu view results // –>

 

Read more on the nominated players by clicking below

Zambian Player of the Year

 Hichani Himonde-Lusaka Dynamos

 At just 21, the agile tall defender is considered to a key member of Herve Renard’s Chipolopolo Boys. 2008 has been a success for the man the Lusaka Dynamos faithful call ‘The undertaker’ because of his trade mark long range free kick.

 

International

After school boy mistakes by Billy Mwanza and Kennedy Nkhetani against Cameroon at the Ghana 2008 Afcon, Himonde was thrust into the mix of things as a substitute. In the final group against eventual winners Egypt, the rookie defender held his nerve as he kept the Pharoahs’ danger men led by Mohamed Aboutrika at bay.

While he was superb in the early rounds of the CHAN qualifier against Swaziland and Botswana, the lusaka born ace was in and out of the national team set when the Frenchman took over- and he never sulked

When he was handed a recall in the Cosafa Senior Challenge in August, the former Chimparamba youth academy player took it with both hands and the rest is history.

 Club

Remember his 30-yard ‘undertaker’ free kick against Zanaco at Woodlands Stadium in the Bp top 8 semi-final. This was his fifth goal of the campaign.

Himonde and his Lusaka Dynamos’ team mates defied all odds as they were crowned the 2008 Bp Top 8 Champions- Dynamos’ first ever silverware in its 29 year old existence.

 

Jonas Sakuwaha- Zesco United

Despite being around for sometime now, the 20 year old looks like a ‘new kid on the block.’

 

International

Sakuwaha actually made his international debut in 2005 but failed to grab that opportunity as he had to wait for three years for recall.

 

Powerful, pace and has an aerial advantage, the former Zamtel social winger cum striker marked his return to international football with a man of the match performance in a friendly match against Congo in November.

 

National team coach Herve Renard was impressed with what he saw in boy from North-western province and handed him a starting berth three days later in an almost full strength squad and Sakuwaha did not disappoint.

 

Should he stay grounded and focused, he has been tipped to be one of the Zambia’s secret weapons to unlock the stubborn North Africans in the final round of the 2010 African/World Cup qualifiers.

Club

 

Sakuwaha’s exploits on the flanks for Zesco United has been vital as he helped Zega to a domestic double including a goal in the Barclays Cup final triumph over Power Dynamos.

 

Though not a prolific finisher, ‘Saku’ had a successful season and ended with se7en goals in all competitions.

 

In addition to leading Team Ya Ziko to the Zambian league title and Barclays Cup, the 20 year old was also part of the team that lost to Lusaka Dynamos in the finals of Bp Top 8.

 Kennedy Mudenda-Power Dynamos

 He is Power Dynamos’ main goal threat. Nicknamed ‘Babanginda’ after former Nigerian star, the 20 year old is crowd favourite and some times tends to play to the gallery. His breathing taking movement on the ball and tricky footwork is one of the reasons why fans pay to watch him.

International

He was Zambia’s most outstanding players in the early rounds of the CHAN qualifiers. His highlight came when he scored a brace against Swaziland and Zambia win 3-0 at Woodlands Stadium.

Though he has been explosive this season, Mudenda’s involvement at international level has been limited under the French born-coach.

 

 Club.

 The Ndeke faithful adore him and he has not disappointed them. His eye catching displays, assists and goals has impressed. Comfortable on both flanks, Mudenda has been menace to opposing full backs.

 He led Dinamo to the Barclays Cup final were they lost to Zesco United. And he was named as man of the match.

 

Rodger Kola-Zanaco

He is the one of Zambia’s hottest property on the local scene. The 2007 World Youth Cup star impressed in his debut season in the Zambian top flight.

 

International

Together with another teenage protégé, Emmanuel Mayuka, the 19 year old has represented Zambia at all levels; Under-20 (1 goal in 2 games), under-23 (1 game) and senior national team (4 goals in 10 games).

 

Dubbed as one of Zambia’s symbol of present and future, Kola has had a good outing on the international stage this year. Having capped his international debut with a brace against Botswana, the promising youngster has gone to be an integral fixture in Herve Renard’s squad.

 Club

Kola’s form in the domestic league has been impressive. The lanky target man has found the back of the net 13 times including four at international level to make him the leading top scorer in all competitions (international, Cups + league).

 

With this kind of form, the 19 year old is one of the highly thought starlet in the region.

 

Henry Banda-Zanaco

Described by national trainer Herve Renard as the best Zambian player at the Cosafa Senior Challenge in August.

 

International

 

He has been one of the best under-20 player this despite the junior Chipolopolo’s poor showing. Against Mauritius, he was simply awesome and his man of the match showing earned him his first ever call up to the senior Chipolopolo set up.

 

At the just ended Cosafa & SADC Zone six under-20 champioships, Banda weighed in four goals from midfield including a brace in the third and fourth playoff.

 

Club

 His international form has been in contrast with the club one were he has been frozen on the bench.

 

After having a wonderful season at Kabwe Warriors in 2007, many had earmarked Banda to take the 2008 season by storm but the end of the season, there was nothing home to write home about the talent and skill of the 19 year old.

 

He has also been nominated in the Revelation of the Year.

 

 

Nathan Sinkala – Green Buffaloes

The young Sinkala is following in the elder brother’s (Andrew Sinkala) footsteps. Calm and composed on the ball, there’s no word as panicking whenever the holding midfielder is on the ball.

 

International

He has started all the under-20 fixture’s except for two this year and that shows how an integral member of the junior Chipolopolo. At the just ended Cosafa & Zone Six tournament, Sinkala was singled out by  South Africa’s Amajita coach ahead of a group stage match as the player to watch.

 

Club

Sinkala is slowly developing into a dependable midfielder at Buffaloes though the coach George Lwandamina has deployed him mainly on the right flank of midfield.

 

Revelation of the Year

kebby-hachipuka

Kebby Hachipuka- Green Eagles

 

While many were expecting Isaac Chansa start against Togo in September, Herve Renard stunned many when he handed a novice a starting berth in crucial match.

 

Though he went on start Zambia’s next three matches, his poor showing against and the emergence of William Njobvu in recent matches has seen him relegated to the bench.

 

 

Aubrey Zulu- Green Eagles

 

He is really a surprise package. For the first Zambia has a league top scorer from a bottom placed team on the log. Zulu’s 12 goals has earned a him a call –up to the national team.