Does CHAN squad measure up to the Senior Chipolopolo? The current squad which recently scooped the COSAFA Cup has drawn quite some comparisons with the Chipolopolo 2012 African Cup of Nations winning team. Are Zambian soccer fans getting carried away? Some have even suggested that the African Nations Championship qualifiers (CHAN) squad can upend the Black Stars in Kumasi on 6th September, 2013! Perhaps the right question to pose is which of the current CHAN squad members merit inclusion in the senior Chipolopolo team and at whose expense? Having watched all the games played by Zambia during the COSAFA Senior Challenge Cup as well as the home and away ties against Botswana during the CHAN qualifiers only two players stood out as worthy of wearing the senior Chipolopolo jersey. Mukuka Mulenga: The journalists have run out of superlatives in describing the new darling and golden boy of Zambian football. At 20 years of age, he has already earned the stripes of playing the creative role behind the main striker(s) in the senior Chipolopolo. He is the new driving force from midfield in aiding attack. Kondwani M’tonga: He is the most complete player in the team. His positional sense on the pitch is second to none. He is a great passer of the ball. He aids attack and is useful in defensive positions. He is lanky but also very good with his feet. He has played for the senior Chipolopolo in an unfamiliar central defensive role but acquitted himself well. He is indeed a utility player. The others are not yet at the top level required for inclusion in Chipolopolo proper. However, they have certain admirable qualities, these are: Danny Munyau: He is a natural between the sticks and a future successor to Kennedy Mweene. He has the frame and spring for a top goalkeeper in the making. Like wine, he will get better with the passage of time. Alex N’gonga: He only makes this list because he is the best dead-ball specialist in the squad and there is no one better than him in the senior Chipolopolo. He is still a rough diamond and needs polishing around the rough edges. However, his quality at free-kicks, corners and penalties is admirable. In this era of tight and mean defences, a team needs a player like N’gonga to unlock such set-ups. Bronson Chama and Christopher Munthali: This central defensive partnership has yet to be tested, especially away from home. However, they have been a tight unit and both have admirable individual quality. For the senior Chipolopolo, Herve Renard must try them out at the problematic wing back positions. We still do not know who the first-choice left back for Chipolopolo is. Mbola? Chisamba? Davies Nkausu has not been very convincing at right back. Moses Phiri: For some strange reason, Herve Renard has opted for the attacking pair of Festus Mbewe and Bornwell Mwape yet whenever Moses comes into the game as a substitute; it becomes clear that he is better than the favoured duo. He is a striker very much for the future but he has a nose for goals and he is a very good finisher. Perhaps his small stature, compared to Festus and Bornwell, counts against him but in terms of raw talent he is miles ahead. Having said all this, the coach for the Chipolopolo hardly makes radical changes with his teams. On 6th September, 2013 in Kumasi, the Chipolopolo will not have undergone surgical changes. None of the CHAN squad will make the first eleven. What we are sure of is that Mukuka Mulenga and Kondwani M’tonga will be part of the team with Mulenga, if fully fit, playing as an attacking midfielder.NAF
Posted on: Mon, 05 Aug 2013 16:09:16 +0000
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