July 16, 2009
According to the Israeli born FIFA lIcensed agent Nir Karin who facilitated the duo and a number of Zambian players’ movement to Israeli, the two midfielders expressed themselves well during the two weeks trials there.
“Clifford was very good but wasn’t in the correct position (the coach was looking for a striker) for the coach. I ‘m sure if Clifford go on like with the good talent and mentality he will find himself in Europe soon,” Karin said
“As for Noah (Chivuta), he trained for a week with Maccabi Tev Aviv. They liked his technique and football but decided not to sign because they need a more agressive and physical midfielder. A number of Israeli clubs wanted but again Supersport United’s asking price was a bit high.
Karin who brokered wonderboy and teenage striker Emmanuel Mayuka’s move to Maccabi Tev Aviv also confirmed that former Under-20 midfielder Justine Zulu has been loaned to second tier side Hapoel Kfar Saba for a season.
“The reason for it is he just come from a small (knee) injury. It’s better for this young boy to regain his shape slowly and I ‘m sure he will be back in the premier league next season,” Karin said trying to justify Zulu’s move despite being one of Hapoel Be’er Sheva key men in their promotion quest last season.
“Zulu had a number of offers from other Premier League clubs but those offers were on conditions of his shape and health and since we didn’t want to push the boy we didn’t to loan to the lower ranks.
“To me, when in shape Zulu is the best Zambian defensive midfielder, ” claimed the Fifa Agent who spent 3 weeks in Zambia and also watched the Chipolopolo Boys’ 2-0 loss to Algeria live at Konkola Stadium.
He also explained the reason why Green Buffaloes midfielder Sebastian Mwansa did fly to attend trials at second tier Hapoel Kryat Shmonne were William Njobvu is still attending trials. The reason is that Buffaloes is yet to release Mwansa despite the Israeli side sending the invitation letter three weeks ago.
And also Green Buffaloes’ and Under-20 defender Gift Sakuwaha is wanted by Maccabi Tev Aviv for the youth team but again the main stumbling block is that the Arakan based side is yet to release him.
49 Comments on "Clifford, Chivuta back in RSA"
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Magic on Thu, 16th Jul 2009 4:24 PM
Unlucky…
Step Aside on Thu, 16th Jul 2009 4:30 PM
Hard luck guys but do not dispair. You are still young and alot of opportunities lie ahead. Keep your heads high and get back to business withh full force.
I wonder why GBFC have not released young Sakuwaha Gift.
Georgia Russia on Thu, 16th Jul 2009 4:39 PM
yaba same old story,,what do clubs look at when these guys attend trials in europe and the rest.to many unsuccesfull trials.
Justice Kafusha on Thu, 16th Jul 2009 5:15 PM
I am very surprised too. I do not know what to say
Uncle Bobs on Thu, 16th Jul 2009 5:56 PM
Ba GBFC naimwe RIGIDITY nasheniko. What do you gain by holding the boy against his will. I can never be convinced that it is in the boy’s interest unless there”s something serious we dont know. And when they run away you lock them up ati AWOL like you did to Linos Chalwe. Move with time please. If i am availed a good reason then i take back my comment. In the meantime ABASH bureaucracy
Matafwali on Thu, 16th Jul 2009 7:32 PM
This is not just surprising, but disappointing. This is why we need people with connections to be running football affairs. The guys are not just given enough time nor the benefit of doubt. Are you telling me Maccabi Petah Tikva did not know Clifford was a midfielder before they invited him? We also need agents with clout who have enough influence to make sure their players are properly and fully assessed.
Gametime12 on Fri, 17th Jul 2009 12:31 AM
Everything happens for a reason, keep your head up guys a better deal might come your way.
Gametime12 on Fri, 17th Jul 2009 12:35 AM
Myafricanfootball.com Will broadcast Zesco’s game on Saturday.
Gametime12 on Fri, 17th Jul 2009 12:37 AM
If anyone gets a free link on Saturday please post thank you in advance
Ba Muzo on Fri, 17th Jul 2009 7:52 AM
I do not know if to be surprised or not…to be or not to be..some of these players albeit good do not command first team places ate their club sides. Is it a coincidence that they are failing trials?
Ba Muzo on Fri, 17th Jul 2009 7:59 AM
I sincerely hope and pray that these guys can light up their current club league scenes FIRST then other clubs can come failing all over each other for them. That is the way it works every where I think. So Noah, Clifford work very hard guys in all aspects-discipline included-there is always the next time. They say when you are good you are good. But ‘charity begins at home’ doesnt it?
Vincent Numbwa on Fri, 17th Jul 2009 8:44 AM
Ba Muzo, Long time! I wonder what really is wrong withour players even without much shining other player from different countries seem to have it better our players are not even given that much chance to show what they are capable of.
I watched Man City
Vincent Numbwa on Fri, 17th Jul 2009 8:56 AM
Ba Muzo, Long time! I wonder what really is wrong withour players even without much shining other player from different countries seem to have it better our players are not even given that much chance to show what they are capable of.
I watched Man City arrival at OT Airport in SA on news, seing Zimbambwean Banjan with the richest club in the world drew me back the memory lane to the days Mbesuma was at Pompey, the guy could hardly play but came the Zimbambean he had more game time to score a cauple of goals. I had hope that Zambia would have a player in the English premiership but it was not to be. Else where it is the same story of next time even for Israerli clubs. Somebody to tell what wrong with our Zambian player that they keep failing trials and that despite the abandance of skill we do not have players in the world’s best league England and Spain.
jc on Fri, 17th Jul 2009 9:31 AM
Vincent,
Our current crop of players is not good enough, it is as simple as that. On Benjani, at Pompey he was scoring and was agile, not neccessarily skillful, but effectively delivering, that is what matters. We need to quickly start again producing players of the calibre and discipline of Kalusha, Charles Musonda, Eston Mulenga, Timothy Mwitwa, etc. Look at the quality in the Ivorian Team.
Mbesuma, I must admit is very talented and is in the class of those players i have mentioned, but his biggest let down was the weight, rendering him less agile.
Georgia Russia on Fri, 17th Jul 2009 10:01 AM
fwayo quits etoile becoz of money differences,solly pandor has advised the young man to follow procedure,but it seems his mind is set. next.times of zambia
Kuku on Fri, 17th Jul 2009 10:22 AM
They cant dribble. They make you sick, i mean they are not even exciting. whats their value realy. They are not hard working. No killer instinct….Lets work on local academies.
Georgia Russia on Fri, 17th Jul 2009 10:48 AM
@Kuku
but we have had quality players like clifford (former afcon player of the year) emmanuel zulu,fwayo tembo and yet they failed to tick in the top most club.why kashi.wat made kalu and charlie tick.felix and mbesuma never under went trials but they flopped.wat is really happening.
Georgia Russia on Fri, 17th Jul 2009 11:00 AM
does it not worry faz that players are ever failing trials.why cant faz come up with a plan and market our players with an updated website for faz.we have players and its not fair that our players are subjected to trials even when they knw that our boys can perform or perhaps its the lingo barrier.james phiri (mrhip) refused to under go trials at some club in belgium.he gave a reason saying that for them to invite him,they knew he was good and y subject him to some trials.
Seen from afar on Fri, 17th Jul 2009 11:39 AM
Patience and perseverance. For me the key thing is that the guys can impress when they attend trials and i guess that means on and off the field etc. As Mr. Karin points out, there are many factors at play. How interested are these clubs? They are looking for players they can invest in… As long as the guys really can impress, then the ball is in clubs court. We also don’t want clubs who sign players and NEVER play them, as someone said it’s better to be playing even if it’s Zed. So let these clubs be sure.
Patience and perseverance, i’m glad/ i’m sure that as of today Zambia has the most players playing Europe than ever before and there is no reason why that number should not keep on increasing. It may take a while, but one day if we have a player playing top flight football we will appreciate what it has taken for him to get there.
Big Steve from SA on Fri, 17th Jul 2009 12:22 PM
I dont agree with you on this one, what about the SA players?? Players like pienaar are also from hard places were poverty and strife are the order of the day but even with that sort of upbrining they have made a mark on the International scene. Clifford as compared to many SA players has had a pretty good life growing up and yet he is failing to do what the SA players are doing, getting a decent contract in a decent league. If it was about upbring even Nigerians should not have been stars.
Step Aside on Fri, 17th Jul 2009 12:23 PM
RENARD ON FRIENDLIES (According to Times of Zambia reporter) – in part
“I am the national coach and I have to work with the available resources. Organising a quality friendly match requires a lot of resources and I don’t think we have enough resources at the moment. What is important now is just to fully utilise the available resources. We know that Algeria are doing their best in terms of preparations and we also have to know what we are doing,” he said.
Despite Zambia surrendering the second position in Group C to Egypt after a 0-2 loss to Algeria at Konkola Stadium in Chililabombwe last month, the Frenchman was still optimistc that Zambia could qualify to the World Cup.
He said the team had a second chance to resuscitate its World Cup dreams when they meet Algeria in September although it would be an uphill battle.
“It is not impossible but very difficult. We are still in the World Cup race and we have a second chance when we meet Algeria in September,” he said.
And Renard said the nation should not expect many surprises when he names the squad for the Algeria return encounter because the team would comprise the same players that played the Desert Foxes in the first leg.
“People should not expect many surprises, of course there will be one or two new players but the squad will be basically the same,” he said.
On prospects of recalling former Mamelodi Sundowns striker, Collins Mbesuma, Renard said every Zambian player had a chance to play for the national team but that the once lethal striker should prove his fitness to earn a place in the squad.
Renard wished Mbesuma well in his search for a club and hoped he could clinch a deal with South African PSL side, Moroka Swallows, the team he is currently training with.
Big Steve from SA on Fri, 17th Jul 2009 1:00 PM
FOR PETES SAKE WHAT IS THIS NONSENSE!!!!!!!
AS on Fri, 17th Jul 2009 1:53 PM
I am equally disappointed but to tell you the truth, the Agent in this case is only being diplomatic but using this language of our players being good ‘but’.
The whole thing is our players are just not good enough period. They must work harder and only then shall our national team begin to shine and attract attention with respect from prospecting clubs.
You say they must be given time, there is nothing like that in Europe, you must be trainable and pretty fast not taking weeks. Thats for sure.
Big Steve from SA on Fri, 17th Jul 2009 1:54 PM
eish some good news mwe:
Mbesuma signs with Swallows
Posted: 2009-07-17 13:46
Former Mamelodi Sundowns striker Collins Mbesuma has signed for Moroka Swallows.
Mbesuma has been training with Swallows for about two weeks.
Earlier this week the Dube Birds’ caretaker coach Eddie Lewis confirmed that the player had made an impression at pre-season training.
Concerned on Fri, 17th Jul 2009 4:04 PM
The only reason is that Zambian players makula chapwa. Nothing else. Everytime same old stories. If they can fail trials in Israel, what more Europe. Awe mwandini chalishupa pa Zambia mwe.
Concerned on Fri, 17th Jul 2009 4:13 PM
I agree with Punch. Confidence is important. Mbesuma may have failed at Pompey because of similar issues.
Gametime12 on Fri, 17th Jul 2009 4:36 PM
Other players from other countries fail trials too, its just that We only have a few players on trials. Thus the number of players who actually get signed is less. This is a simple matter of statistics, the more players on trials the better the chance of having your players signed. Remember that some of these West African players struggled before landing first place in the main team. This is not the end, confidence might be an issue, but I also feel its normal to fail trials. @Concerned was Mbesuma on trials at Pompey or He was fighting for a starting position in the first team?
Gametime12 on Fri, 17th Jul 2009 4:45 PM
The only mistake that Mbesuma made was that he failed to prove Pompey wrong when he was loaned to another team. I don’t think there’s much he could have done while at Pompey. Honestly speaking he wasn’t given that much of a chance, and I understand the team was struggling then. As soon as they changed coaches Mbesuma and a couple of other players were let go. He was only given a chance at Pompey’s B side, and he did manage to score some goals. He was a super sub on the senior team, and he’d only play for approximately 10 minutes which is not enough at a new club. I believe there was another team that originally wanted to sign Mbesuma, but instead Pompey jumped in then Mbesuma changed course. That was also one of his downfalls.
AS on Fri, 17th Jul 2009 5:58 PM
‘Concerned’, you must understand that Zambia is not as developed as RSA, or Europe. Therefore, no matter what you think that Clifford comes from an above average family and therefore should have confidence, No. Confidence comes from proper exposure say moving from USA to Europe, you will have the same confidence but Zambia to Europe, or RSA, it will not be the same coz Zambia is undeveloped. Our level of technology is lower. You must be extra good to quickly fit into the European culture becoz most of the time, you will have unnecessary respcet for whites even when you are better than them. Thats lack of exposure and confidence. Our players and indeed all Zambians think anything foreign is better than them, hence having lost the confidence in themselves. Look at our coach Renard, what has he done that Zambian coaches havent done before,NOTHING!!!!.Convince me over that, but you are there thinking he is a good coach. You always sing about him on this website. All that is a lack of CONFIDENCE in ourselves!!!!!!
Gametime12 on Fri, 17th Jul 2009 6:25 PM
AS HR is not the best coach, but I think you have to give him some respect for what his achieved so far (3rd place at Chan). You also have to understand the game to know when to blame the coach. In this case I don’t think it Was the Coaches fault some players could not deliver. I mean HR’s game plan was clear in the game against Algeria, just that our players could not deliver. I know Zambians have a tendency of blaming everything on the coach, understand that the coach can only do so much. Don’t expect him to score goals for you. AS, how many Zambian players do you know have ever trialed out in the English premiere league? How many have trailed out in other European countries? I bet more have trialed out in other countries, and more have been signed. We’ve only had 1 guy trial out in the English premiere league and you expect to have 3 or more players signed. This confidence issue does not add up, We have a reasonable number of players signed in Europe for the number of players that go for trials. Besides these guys failed to tick in the Middle East not Europe, so what does this have to do with confidence?
Gametime12 on Fri, 17th Jul 2009 6:33 PM
I personally think its better to get a foreign coach at the national team level. I’m not implying that Zambian coaches cannot get the job, I just prefer foreign coaches, because I’ve noticed that almost all the Zambian coaches since 98 tend to be biased when they pick their players. I remember patrick phiri would pick his own boys, george Mungwa (sp) had his own boys. This even got worse when kalu was coach, how do you pick players like Nkentani? I don’t care if the coach is Nigerian, white blue or yellow, just get someone who will pick a reasonable team. The mentality of white people being better does not exist in my world yet am still praising HR because I feel he has picked a fair team not because his white. I’m sick of our team just showing up at the AFcon without putting up a fight.
AS on Sat, 18th Jul 2009 2:50 PM
Gametime12,
You have got me wrong. Iam not against HR in any way, but what Iam trying to bring out is the case of a lack of confidence in Zambians as a nation.I have said that Zambians try to give too much respect to anything foreign, and the case of HR is one example. I agree with you that he came 3rd at CHAN, but my question is does it mean a Zambian would have failed to reach that level? Zambians have always taken our team to AFCON. So, to me 3rd place at CHAN is nothing but a small job. That’s more or less lie COSAFA.
My point in the previous article is more Zambians will only be called for trials to Europe when our player improve and our team plays at a higher level like the world cup, only then can they be given respect, not CHAN. How may players from CHAN have been called to Europe for trials, none, because that’s a small tournament.First, our players need to have confidence in themselves when they attend trials, otherwise just like any job interview, if that’s lacking , you will lose the job.
Gametime12 on Sun, 19th Jul 2009 1:40 AM
AS I was just trying to point out some of the things that he has done so far that Zambian coaches have not done. Isn’t that what you asked? and one example is that he has left out people like Nkentani from the team, he has also managed to drop undisciplined players. Most Zambian coaches would not even drop defenders who made unthinkable errors at national team level, keep in mind that this happened at Afcon. Instead they used them in the next Afcon, they recycled the same failures and yet you are wondering why We haven’t been able to make quarter finals. I did not say Chan is the end of the road, you have to look at the bigger picture. HR has not even made it to Afcon yet, so may be We should not call him out so early and wait till Afcon is done. Then will probably be able to grade his coaching. I’m praising HR for his team selection, and I know locals have been recommending players in his team. but the thing is he has the balls not to favor people like nkentani (and thats my problem with local coaches). If you really want to compare Zambian coaches to foreign coaches based on how far they’ve taken the team in a tournament then Zambian coaches don’t have a chance. Qualifying to Afcon is not that impressive, We always make it to Afcon. My point though was that most of the Zambian coaches seem to favor some players biased on feelings or relationship and not on merit. I mean the selection has been suspicious since 96, and thats the last time we ever made quarter finals. We all know that making it to the world cup will help our players break into Europe, but I thin winning Afcon would be a good start. So why not concentrate in that area, you don’t start building a house from the roof, start from the ground and work your way up.
AS on Sun, 19th Jul 2009 1:46 PM
GAMETIME12,
I get you clearly. I think we are talking about two different things altogether. You are talking about the merits of HR and Iam talking about confidence amongst Zambians from players administrators and general citizens.
To examplify what I mean, tell me what you make out of this article from Lusaka times:
.
Realistic Person says:
July 18, 2009 at 9:44 amWatch out Zambia:
One undeniable truth is that someone like myself, a foreigner was valued more than any Zambian. It was as if what I am made me inherently superior, intelligent, knowledgeable and rich. I could literally do anything I pleased without serious retribution. If I was involved in a fight for instance with a black Zambian in which I instigated, it is quite likely that the police would immediately assume my innocence and batter the other poor fellow before realizing the truth. It was becoming ridiculous; I was no longer waiting in line because Zambians would gladly give up their spot for me. Foreign dignitaries probably have much more power than the Zambian government itself in the sovereign republic of Zambia. The attention paid to the words of a foreign official is paramount.The heads of every large corporation are white men including the company that produces the staple traditional Zambian meal that I mentioned earlier. I went to Zambia expecting to be an equal and assist in develop and put to good use what I learned from Elie Wiesel but instead I was frustrated by a bunch of bumbling idiots who assumed I am better than them. I painfully caught myself thinking that perhaps their assumptions were true.
It was also getting clear that Zambia has two worlds in it. One is where the blacks go about their daily business leading lives of mediocrity and disgruntlement. Another is a secret society of foreigners who live like gods, networking with another, toasting champagne and driving big business
TOO MUCH RESPECT FOR ANYTHING FOREIGN -TRUE ABOUT ZAMBIA-
Gametime12 on Sun, 19th Jul 2009 5:32 PM
AS I was probably looking at the HR case through my eyes, maybe some people are praising him because his foreign. This works to our advantage in this case, most players will give him the respect. Rather than players that push around the local coaches.
AS on Mon, 20th Jul 2009 10:09 AM
Cheers Gametime12. Good news though from Jonas Sakuwaha.
yamwela zee on Mon, 20th Jul 2009 2:07 PM
ba zambia yashani? bolla mulefilwa kanofye beer
yamwela zee on Mon, 20th Jul 2009 2:13 PM
CLIFFORD YOU ARE A STAR KEEP YOUR HEAD HIGH LOOK AT SOUTHAFRICAN FOOTBALLERS THEY CANT MARCH UP TO YOU THATS WHY YOU ALWAYS OUTSHINE THEM IN ALL THE MARCHES YOU HAVE PLAYED HERE AND WHAT THE GUYS NAME THEY CHOOSE OVER YOU