As we start 2010 and come to the end of a disastrous  decade in terms football, Zambianfootball.net gives you a retrospective piece which considers the top Zambian Players in the last 10 years (2000- 2010).

It must be stated there are two categories; those who were at their twilight of their careers (2000-2004/5 and the current generation (2004-2010). Also take note that quality (talent of the player) has been given priority over longevity (how many caps a player has won).

The formation is 4-3-3 with much dependence on overlapping full backs!!!!!!!!!!!!

Goalkeeper:

Kennedy Mweene- A tough choice over Davies Phiri but the 25 year old gets the nod. Last season he was voted the South African Premier Soccer League best goalkeeper.  Also the reason for his inclusion is that he won the 2006 Cosafa Castle Cup.

Unlike Phiri, who had a bit of a solid back four during his days as Chipolopolo first choice shot stopper, Mweene has had to do with an average one/ changed  back four since he  made his debut in 2005 against Congo in Brazzaville. Along the way he has pulled world class saves to denial the opposition.

This will be Mweene’s third AFCON.

Right back:

Laughter Chilembi- At 29 years old, he is still going strong at Power Dynamos. He was the best full back ahead of Jimmy Chisenga and Thomas Nyirenda in the 2009 season with his trade mark tough tacking and pin point crosses down the flank (2009 Barclays Cup final).

Chilembi made the right full back position his own from 1999 to 2004 under four different coaches; Ben Bamfuchile, Jan Brouwer, Roald Poulsen and Patrick Phiri.

His international career came to an end in 2005 after he gifted El Hadji Diouf a goal at Konkola Stadium.

The former Nchanga Rangers player also had a great spell at Zimbabwe glamour side CAPS United where he was given the armband.

Centre-back:

Elijah Tana- At his peak he could have walked into any defence on the continent.  He is rock solid central defender who has been a cornerstone behind the Zambia.

In the ‘Zambian Best Player of the Decade,’ Zamfoot blogger Seen from Afar summed up Tana’s qualities.

In previous African cups, there have been many times when we conceded costly “soft” goals if you look back in hindsight. It’s always been a feature, but Tana promises to change that. When you look at his body language it always reads well, he does not accept anything soft, his ferocity and intensity demands the very best from all the players around him. The look on his face is always one of total focus, determination, support and that is all you can ask for from players. That carries through to his game and makes him the outstanding player he is! What every Zambian is hoping at home, you can be sure Tana is going to try and do. He’s represents the will of the people.

In Mali 2002 and Egypt 2006 you saw this at it’s best, he was driving force of the team, when we needed to come back in a game, it’s he who sparks it, pushing players forward and even attacking himself… I’ve listened to commentators on Eurosport and on BBC, often they cannot take Zambia’s attempts seriously, when they compare them to the high levels of professionalism, organisation and composure teams Cameroun and Senegal display. But, i know they all remember the man because you have to acknowledge such rare and outstanding gallant performances. There logic tells them it’s unrealistic, but Tana’s effort makes them think twice. Not only the example he sets but the records/goals and statistics prove what a great player he is.

Respect.

Centreback:

Moses Sichone- Outstanding at reading the game and the epitome of firm but fair tackling and he is still going strong in Cyprus where he is playing his club football.

‘Big Mo’ s talent has been under utilized at international level but one can only argue at his peril he is one of a few quality centre-backs to have emerged from Zambia post Gabon plane crash era.

One thing which mystify is that the partnership of Sichone and Tana never blossomed as it promised during the Nchanga Rangers early days when it clinched the Chingola based side the 1998 Zambian Premier League league title. When Sichone called a call up then Tana was ignored and the vice versa…Eish imagine ‘Big Mo’ alongside ‘Da-da’ in Angola at their peak.

Left back:

Emmanuel Mbola- Controversial choice by many since he has only been in the squad for 13 months but atleast he qualifies for selection.

Since making his international debut in November 2008, Mbola’s explosive wing back has won many people’s hearts and is rightly so considered Zambia’s symbol of present and future.

With all due respect to Joseph Musonda and Hilary Makasa who have patrolled the left back role before he made his position his own, the Pyunik fc teenager comes top thanks to his ability.

Defensive Midfielder:

Andrew Sinkala- He is almost everyone’s choice for this role. Another former ‘Brave’ Nchanga Rangers from the famed 1998 title winning team.

‘The General’ reminded fans of his credentials in the 1-0 loss to Egypt at Konkola Stadium with an eye catching display especially in the first half.

Just aged 20 years old in 2000, Sinkala anchored the midfield at the Ghana/Nigeria AFCON finals and was also part of Roald Poulsen’s 2002 squad in Mali.

Attacking Midfield:

Gift Kampamba- He led his boyhood club, Nkana to the 1999 league title before moving to the rand rich South African PSL where he made his name at Mamelodi Sundowns. He then had spell in Russia where he had limited game time.

Before the African Cup of Nations finals in Mali, Kampamba was singled out by BBC Focus magazine as the player to watch at the tournament.

Kampamba was a gifted natural playmaker. His last game for Zambia came in the 4-1 away bashing by the Emmanuel Adebayor led Togo. But his best game in a Chipolopolo shirt was in the reverse fixture earlier on at Independence Stadium when Jacob Mulenga scored the only goal of the game in 2005.

Alongside Sinkala, Kampamba controlled the game showing sublime skills and the vision which has lacked in most Zambian midfielders in recent years.

Attacking Midfield:

Rainford Kalaba- He gets the nod over Felix Katongo though it’s a close call. Just at 23 years old, the Portuguese midfielder will be going to his third African Cup of Nations.

Once described by Chipolopolo Boys trainer Herve Renard as the best Zambian player in the current set up and an accolade he deserves but the midfield maestro will have to put on the right shooting boots in Angola to prove the Frenchman’s words.

Striker:

Dennis Lota- He was Zambia’s main man at the start of the decade. He will occupy the right side in a three man strike force.

In one of the qualifiers in 2001 when Jan Brouwer was in-charge, the Dutchman was quoted in the media saying,”We need Lota to come. I am sure if he is coming he is going to score.” And during the, then dreadlocked talisman scored the winning goal at Independence Stadium. Such was the importance of the Lota to the team.

Striker:

Collins Mbesuma- A half fit Ntofo-Ntofo is a better option such is the notion among many fans and pundits.

Had Mbesuma taken care of his fitness problems, this lad was destined for greatness. He scored over 40 goals in the 2004/05 season for club and country.

Many believe he is Zambia’s player of the decade and rightly so.

Kitwe based blogger Jojo on Mbesuma

I first watched Collins in 02 or 03 when Roan United played Nkana at Arthur Davies stadium, before the game all the talk was about this left footed striker from Roan who plays with his collar lifted up, he was unbelievable, the things he did with the ball were breathtaking, he was a bit smaller by then and operated more on the left, he also had a lot of pace, incidentally Roan United were again at Arthur Davies the next weekend to play power and the stadium was almost full as everyone came to see this player whom everybody had been talking about, he then tore to shreds a formidable power defence comprising Billy Mwanza, Stephen Kunda and Manaseh Mwanza.
in South Africa he went and shattered the scoring records when he scored 37 goals in 46 appearances,he won both golden boot and footballer of the year ,even though he failed to make it at Portsmouth, am sure every Zambian was proud to see fellow Zambian in the premiership, he also scored some important goals for Zambia as well his hat-trick in Congo, his equaliser for Zambia against Mali in Chililabombwe, his 4 goals in the mini Cosafa tournament at woodlands stadium etc.

In Portugal even though he was plagued by injury he still managed to score 7 goals in his one season there…
He has been very controversial off the pitch he has made a lot of mistakes and done some very bad things, but on the pitch when he was at his peak ,he was a marvel to watch ,so when you talk about the best Zambian player in the last 10 years, there is no player here who has achieved what Collins Mbesuma has in that period and personally he is the best player that I have seen in the last 10 years..

And according to Jojo

Dennis Lota and Collins Mbesuma scored the first and last goals in the decade.

Striker:

Christopher Katongo- Tsunami does not possess the sublime skill and goal scoring touch of Mbesuma. He is the opposite of Mbesuma; Hardworking!!!!!!!! His workaholic altitude has seen him rise to become Zambia’s talisman.

He was top scorer in South Africa before he moved to Denmark were he caught the eye of Bundesliga suitors Arminia Bielefeld.

Substitutes: (Only 7 Subs)

Davies Phiri (gk), Billy Mwanza, Joseph Musonda, Isaac Chansa, Felix Katongo, Nsofwa Chaswe, Clifford Mulenga.

Billy Mwanza- finds himself on the bench as our centre-back cover. He can also play on both full back positions.

Joseph Musonda- Surprise omission from the ‘Best XI.’ Basically the team selection criteria was based on the best- most talented in each position and not on how long someone has been putting on that Chipolopolo shirt.

With all due to respect to the former Nkana player, he hasn’t been consistency enough. His performances has been patch except in 2009 were he has shown a bit quality. Maybe it’s because of the armband he has been given at Golden Arrows.

Isaac Chansa-Another tough choice. Misheck Lungu deserves a special mention. Lungu was one of the key players under Brouwer and Kalusha but again it is not supposed to be sentimental.

Quality should not be compromised over longevity. So Chansa gets the nod.

Felix Katongo- Arguably Zambia’s best player in 2008. That was his year. He scored a total of five goals from midfield. The goals were all cracking…thunderbolts from outside the 18-yard box.

One would only hope ‘Feli-Goal’ does replicate his Ghana 2008 Afcon form.

Clifford Mulenga- There’s only other player from Southern Africa to have won a continental personal accolade. Yes…2007 African Young Player of the Year.

Nsofwa Chaswe- the late Nsofwa Chaswe was at some time a hot cake. Played professional football in Malasyia and Israel.

Will be best remembered for coming off the bench to inspire Zambia to the 2006 Cosafa Cup at Independence Stadium

On the local scene, he led Zanaco to back to back league titles.

What is your team of the decade? You can use any selection criteria and formation which suits you.

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