PLAYERS ABROAD WITH ZEDBOLA
ARTICLE BY: CHISOMO LUNGU
Wow, it’s so good to be back… I was shivering with excitement at the prospect of getting back to writing, putting pen to paper on the things our boys are doing abroad… Putting the eagle on the map… As social media calls it ‘Zambia ku chalo´ Welcome back to Zambian players abroad, it’s great to have you with us.
‘… He comes from Zambia…’ the song goes… and the Leicester fans sing… Who am I talking about other than the imperious P. Daka. It’s almost like he knew this article was coming and had to present us with an opening talking point. The last article I did had us purring at his performance at Salzburg and now, in the mighty English Premier League, he is doing it again. Daka played the full 90 minutes against Newcastle and managed to grab a goal and assist, proving too difficult for the Newcastle defence. Are you watching Vardy? The boy who comes from Zambia is here… At Tynecastle Park in Edinburgh, it was F. Sakala’s Glasgow Rangers who mercilessly put Hearts to the sword away from home by 2-0. The Zambian attacker, who did not finish the game, played well and was able to contribute to the team’s success with an assist for the 1st goal for A. Morelos in just the 9th minute.
In the Eredivisie, J. Mulenga came off the bench as his side Go Ahead Eagles played to a goalless draw against Utrecht. Mulenga came on in the 80th minute and was unable to provide the key needed to open the Utrecht defence in this game week 16 fixture. In Portugal, in the Segunda Liga (Second division), Zambian player A. Kanyamuna was an unused substitute as his side Trofense defeated Varzim 3-1 to collect maximum points.
In the most populous country in the world, China, we had Zambian 2012 AFCON winning player, S. Sunza, who plys his trade at Cangzhou Mighty Lions was on the losing side in their Chinese Super League match against Wuhan FC. Wuhan won the game played at home by 4-2. The Zambian defender got a yellow card in the 60th with the game already at 3-2.
L. Banda had a truly bad game, his team Maccabi Petah Tikva, is sitting at the bottom of the Ligat ha’Al in Israel, lost away to Bnei Sakhnin by a goal to nil and he got a red card in the 61st minute. Ill discipline got the better of the attacker and as a result, he left his team to not only fight to get back in the game but further handicap as well as force them to fight for a point with a man down. It got even uglier for Maccabi Petah Tikva as they were further reduced to 9 men as a second red card was given. L. Banda will need to make amends for this after his return from suspension as he looks to get his team off the foot of the table.
In the Russian Premier League, it was a tough encounter for E. Kangwa as his side Arsenal Tula came up against CSKA Moscow. The Zambian with jersey number 10, played the full 90 minutes but was unable to impose himself together with his team, as they capitulated to a 2–0 defeat at the VEB Arena in the Russian capital of Moscow. Leaving Arsenal Tula just 3 points above the dreaded relegation zone.
At the Dobsonville stadium in Soweto, South Africa, Zambian players A. Muwowo and M. Musonda were on the losing side as their team, Moroka Swallows were beaten by a solitary goal to nil against Marumo Gallants. The defeat leaves Swallows desperately looking down the barrel of relegation. Both players were substituted in the 54th minute as they were unable to make an impact. It was a gloomy day at the office for former Zanaco shot stopper T. Nsabata as his team Sekhukhune United were beaten by South African PSL title contenders Kaizer Chiefs. Nsabata, the Zambian goalkeeper was unable to keep out Amakhosi (Kaizer Chiefs) as they are affectionately known, at their home ground at the FNB Stadium, as he conceded 2 goals. Compatriot, K. Mweene, was on the bench as his side Mamelodi Sundowns beat Supersport United to maintain their charge towards the title. In the same match, G. Lungu who plys his trade with Supersport was unable to rattle the back of the net with a goal and was substituted on the hour mark. In KwaZulu Natal, Zambian defensive midfielder N. Sinkala received a yellow card as his team Stellenbosch played out to a goalless draw against Maritzburg United. This result represents the 5th straight match for Sinkala’s side that has ended without a win.
It was a tough week for Zambian players abroad, though we had some players who came through, especially P. Daka who got some much-needed game time, it will be an exciting few weeks for him as the Premier League enters what Sir Alex Ferguson called ‘Squeaky bum time’ this will give him more minutes as matched come thick and fast! In tandem with that, be on the lookout as we too at Zedbola will bring you articles on Zambian players abroad thick and fast!
