October 30, 2009
Zambianfootball.net takes a look at how the local Chipolopolo Boys fared individually in a 2-0 win over Mozambique in Thursday’s Cosafa Senior Challenge semi final.
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Jacob Banda (Zesco United)- – Nicknamed Spider boy, the Zesco United shot stopper is back as the local first choice goalkeeper after being Davy Kaumbwa’s understudy at the Chan tournament in Ivory Coast earlier in the year. He wasn’ttested in the match except when he had to come fast to cover for Dennis Banda’s ‘teasing’ back pass.
He was commading in the air and that’s the reason he is known as Spider boy -6
Jimmy Chisenga (Red Arrows)- His worst game in a Chipolopolo shirt. The teenage full back has to get his act as soon as possible or he risks missing out the final squad for Angola 2010 African Cup of Nations if Zambia qualifies.
His forward and overlapping wing play was lacking- 5
Thomas Nyirenda (Zanaco) – the ex-Konkola Blades man and now at Zanaco earned his full debut. Played out of position on the left, Nyirenda accounted himself well. He showed abit of tactical awareness on the ball. 6.5
Dennis Banda-(Green Buffaloes) He looked a bit uncomfortable yesterday. His back pass to the goalkeeper could have brought back the Mambas into the game. He needs to up his game in the final on Sunday. The elegant and modern centre back wasn’t impressive- 5
Hichani Himonde (Zesco United)- He is Zambia’s most capped player in the tournament with 25 caps and the Zesco United looks like he has come out of age finally. He was Zambia’s best player on the pitch. He commanded his defensive duties well. This was probably his best performance for Zambia- 8
Stoppilla Sunzu (Afrisports)- This boy has something special but he needs to play alongside another type of midfielder to get the best out of him. Partner him with either William Njobvu or Isaac Chansa- both aggressive midfielders, and then his style of play will be complimented. He didn’t not replicate his performance against Namibia in the quarter finals.- 6.
Sebastian Mwansa (Green Buffaloes) –He is the Zambian version of Argentina’s Roman Juan Riquelme. Deploy him infront of two defensive midfielders and you will testify why. In the first half the 2007 Zambian Footballer of Year showed why an attacking midfielder with killer passes or defence splitting passes his needed in the main team.
He was ineffective wide on the left in the second half after tactical changes by the coach- 7
Henry Banda(Zanaco) – Herve Renard should stop playing this lad in central midfield. He is a winger. Apart from a defensive splitting pass to Allan Mukuka in the second half, HB8 had nothing to show off in a disappointing game-5.5
Allan Mukuka (Zanaco)- You won’t be wrong to say he has been a revelation at the tournament. His intelligence and tricky runs on the right has been a marvel to watch. He had two assists for both goals and that explains it why the organizers handed him the man of the match. 7.5
Enoch Sakala (Zesco Utd)- His volley was deflected into the back of
the net and could have had a second for the day but shot straight into the palms of the goalkeeper after being through one on one by a unselfish Luka Lungu pass.
LungaLuka
His lazy approach could be frustrating but that’s his style-6
Luka Lungu (Power Dynamos-pictured in Jersey 17)- Last minute inclusion by Renard and the Power man looks to be good gamble. He did ok but reduce on holding on to ball too much- 6
Substitutes
Maunga Kabuku (Kabwe Warriors)- The Warriors man is back after being ignored. His partnership with William Njobvu in a double header against Angola nearly forced Renard to drop Kebby Hachipuka from the Chipolopolo set up. Picked up a metatarsal injury at the Cecafa Cup last year and subsequently missed on Chan.
He came on and showed a bit of nice touches and box to box kind of midfield play. He is a good bet to start on Sunday. 6
Maunga came on for Lungu.
Kebby Hachipuka (Choma Eagles)- brought on for the ineffective HB8 and he did his job. Calmed down the pressure. One hopes Hachi will replicate his form that saw being touted as the next big thing from Zed -5.5
Felix Sunzu Jr (free agent) – One wonders why he was replaced in the first match and started from the bench in yesterday’s game. Anyway sometimes you let the football do the talking and his cracking header that was deflected into the goal for Zambia’s second could have earned a place in the starting eleven for the final- 6.5
Unused Subs: Joshua Titima, Stanely Nshimbi, Charles Siyingwa, Percy Kisonge & Jimmy Ndhlovu.
Tactics by Herve Renard
Again it was the usual 4-3-3 cautious formation but this time around with more attacking minded players as opposed to his usual defensive midfielder. That’s a plus for the Frenchman but can he take gamble by deploying the traditional and conventional 4-4-2; two strikers, two wingers and one attacking midfielder.
In this case with his available squad
____________________Spider Boy___________
Chisenga________HH_________DB_______Mwelwa Sakala
Mukuka_________Stoppilla____Maunga______Henry
____________Luka Lungu_______Sunzu Jr______
Please not that the Zamfoot Crew has sacrificed Sebastian Mwansa and Enoch Sakala because both players lack pacy and aggressive.
As we stated earlier, ‘Ba Seba’ is one of the best attacking midfielders in Zambia with that special pass a striker craves for but he is not a box to box and a two man midfield doesn’t suit. He can’t really tick as a number 8 but give him two defensive and deploy him in the hole, then you will appreciate ‘Ba Seba’.
Maunga Kabuku is our choice over Hachipuka and ‘Ba Seba’ simply because he works hard for the team. He has an advantage of a work rate over the due.
Catch all action and live updates for Zimbabwe v Zambia on Sunday starting at 14:30 CAT.
16 Comments on "Player Ratings: Zambia 2 Mozambique 0"
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Unza 1 on Fri, 30th Oct 2009 3:44 PM
Am happy that youv mentioned that henry banda needs to be used as a winger.Am also excited about the proposed 4-4-2 lineup.Bt do these guys ever listen?!? We’l just have to wait and see
The Doctor on Fri, 30th Oct 2009 4:13 PM
atleast you have agreed with me on the use of the 4_4_2 formation.but am not very sure abt maunga for me i would put Ba Seba on that position and demand that stopilla plays more of a zonal midfielder.I feel we need some with killer passes and who can make complete passes and handle set pieces.HB8 set pieces are disapointing and he has really perfomed underpar.
Luka lungu is good but he gave away possesion so easily,yes Enoch is lazy but difficult to disposses and provides simple nice passes,to me the guy is more tactical upfront than Luka,jimmy and Sunzu.There is so sense of maturity is his play and i can give him a starting berth.
big steve from sa on Fri, 30th Oct 2009 4:56 PM
I’d swap the rating of Hichani and Mukuka. Mukuka in all honesty was a marvel in that game
Ngulube on Fri, 30th Oct 2009 5:40 PM
Lets nature this team 4 2014 world cup please,these same players shud b used to play,CECAFA CHAN , COSAFA and then AFC 2014 ,By then they wilb a formidable team to play any Brazil or sturbon spain.
Ua ryt shud b used in wing,bt i wonder y him n luka lungu were nt swappng positions.
Next we hope Kennedy Mudenda plays along.
Congratulatiön chipolopolo job well done.
Whisper on Fri, 30th Oct 2009 6:47 PM
Gents, I didn’t see the match yesterday, but from the sounds of it Mukuka did the business.
I don’t know what Henry Banda does in training to keep getting picked, but surely he must be on number 8 of his 9 lives?
Can anyone who knows a site that will be streaming the match please share. I am really looking forward to seeing the match but can’t find it anywhere.
Awe on Fri, 30th Oct 2009 9:48 PM
Zamfoot who wore the number 10 shirt? I heard the boy had some good ball control and touches on the ball. I fear that some of the high performers in the COSAFA cup end being flashes in the pan. I hope the talent unveiled here will grow in leaps and bounds, well done guys. The local guns seem to be doing well when they are called up, I hope the Zimbabwe game will be approached with the same strategy and open play that has been described here. Where can we watch the match???