Defenders Billy Mwanza and Joseph Musonda of Lamotville Golden Arrows of South Africa have confirmed they will be available for Zambia’s Cosafa Castle Cup semifinal match against Mozambique next Saturday in Pretoria.
Mwanza and Musonda’s availability is good news for acting Zambia head coach Fighton Simukonda who was facing the prospect of losing five out of his six South African-based call-ups for the Mozambique game.
Simukonda said Mwanza and Musonda had informed him that they would join the team in Johannesburg on Thursday after playing for Golden Arrows on Wednesday in a Telkom Cup preliminary round game away to Mamelodi Sundowns.
Defender Kampamba Chintu of Free State Stars will also join the team immediately after playing for his club on Friday in another Telkom Cup game away to Ajax Cape Town.
The trios availability will bring to five the number of South African-based professionals confirmed for the game against Mozambique who will include Chintu’s team mate and Zambia first choice goalkeeper Kennedy Mweene.
Striker Noah Chibvuta of Wits University is the other player expected for the match although Simukonda is not sure as to whether Songwe Chalwe of Moroka Swallows would be available.
Chalwe will be in action with Swallows against Kaizer Chiefs in the Telkom Cup on the same day the Cosafa Castle Cup semifinal game will be played.
Meanwhile Simukonda also expressed concern over the availability of Angolan-based players Ian Bakala, Adubelo Phiri and Felix Katongo as to whether they would make it for the match in Pretoria.
“We are trying to get in touch with them but we have put two players on standby just in case we fail to secure the release of the players from Angola,” said Simukonda.
Zambia go into camp in Lusaka on Sunday with five late call-ups in the team who will include Roan United goalkeeper Mufwaya Makasa and Under-23 striker Felix Sunzu from Konkola Blades.
Lameck Njovu of Zanaco, Kabwe Warriors’ Under-20 Emmanuel Mayuka and Green Buffaloes midfielder Sebastian Mwansa are the other players Simukonda had drafted into the team.
Another two players could join the team on Monday should Bakala, Katongo or Phiri not be be released for national team duty by their respective Angolan clubs.
BP Top 8 Quarterfinal
Defending champions Zanaco on Saturday face Zesco United in the BP Top 8 quarterfinal match at the Trade Fair Grounds in Ndola.
Zesco host BP Top 8 champions Zanaco looking to go beyond the quarterfinal stage for the first time after losing 1-0 to Chambishi last and a year before went out on post-match penalties to 2005 winners Kabwe Warriors.
Winner of this game will face victor of the quarterfinal match between 7-time BP Top 8 champions Kabwe Warriors and Power Dynamos.
2005 BP Top 8 winners Warriors will host the 1990 and 2001 champions Power at Railway Grounds in Kabwe.
And in Mazabuka, 2005 losing finalist Green Buffaloes will be away to relegation threatened Nakambala Leopards who qualified for the competition after finishing seventh last season.
The winner of this match will take on winner of the quarterfinal match between Konkola Blades or Forest Rangers who face0-off in Chililabombwe.
Winners from the Warriors-Power and Zesco-Zanaco match will play at Nchanga Stadium in Chingola.
The other semifinal match will be played at Nkoloma Stadium in Lusaka where Nakambala or Buffaloes will take on Blades or Forest.
The final of the 38th edition of the BP Top 8 tournament will be played on November 10 at Woodlands Stadium.
My dear Zambian brothers the draw for the African Nations Cup is on 19 th october. I am curious to know your predictions. Who do you think Zambia will meet?
What should be the most favourable group for us?
Group of death
Cameroon,Ivory Coast,Zambia, Angola
Group of Death
Senegal, Nigeria, Morocco, Zambia
Chris Katongo’s club Brondby IF lost 0-1 to defending champions FC Copenhagen in a local derby played this afternoon at Brondby Stadium. Zambia skipper Katongo stared the game on the bench and came on as a sub in the 72th min. Katongo brought some life to the BIF frontline and almost scored, but his shot was saved by FCK keeper Jesper Christiansen. Brondby are second last. The game was watched by a 30,000 crowd and was beamed live on TV2 Sport.
Chambishi, Nkana smell promotion
By Elias Chipepo
at Chambishi Stadium
Blue Eagles 0 Chambishi 4
DIVISION One (North) leaders Chambishi and second-placed Nkana yesterday moved a step closer to sealing promotion to the KCM-FAZ Premier Division after winning their respective week 27 league matches.
Chambishi tore to pieces struggling Police Blue Eagles to increase their points tally to 58 points while Nkana, still with a game awaiting FAZ disciplinary committee judgment, remain two points behind the leaders.
Chambishi started the second half on a high note as it was one-way traffic with Allan Kombe doubling the advantage in the 52nd minute with a low but well struck left footed free-kick.
Bobton Chola scored the third goal in the 55th minute as he collected a loose ball and chipped the ball over an advancing goalkeeper to send the fans into wild celebrations and inform striker Venecious Mapande completed the scoring in the 59th minute.
Medical 0 Nkana 1
Legendary Nkana yesterday kept alive their dreams of qualifying to Premiership after they beat Medical Stars in a tight KCM-FAZ Division One North Week 27 match played in Ndola, writes Felix Malunga at Musa Kasonka stadium.
William Chinse made the difference in this match watched by FAZ president, Teddy Mulonga, when he powered home a diving header on 60 minutes from a Patrick Kabamba cross.
With three games more to play, Nkana, who this weekend face Zesco United in the Coca-Cola Cup finals, moved to 56 points, two behind leaders Chambishi.
Blackpool 2 Wanderers 1
Legendary fighters ‘Mighty’ Mufulira Wanderers failed to live up to their ‘tag’ name after going down fighting to Mufulira Blackpool in this exciting local derby that attracted a sizeable crowd.
Musika Ma’suwa gave Blackpool the lead but Allan Mukuka equalised for Wanderers before Chrispin Katebe scored the winning goal for Blackpool late in the second half
OTHER RESULTS
NORTH
Prison 1 Kalewa 0
Mine Police 0 Indeni 2
Lime 0 Chindwin 1
Muchindu 0 Afrisport 0
Kitwe v Ndola (postponed to Wednesday)
SOUTH
Nkwazi 5 Brigade 0
Tigers 1 Eagles 2
Riflemen 3 Zamcoal 0
Celtic 1 Y/Buffaloes 0
Nampundwe 0 LCC 2
Pirates 0 Communite 0
Chilanga 0 Profund 0
Zesco hold on to players
By STEPHEN PHIRI
ZESCO United will not release three national team players for this Saturday’s Cosafa Castle Cup semi-final against Mozambique due to their involvement in the Coca-Cola Cup final against Nkana.
Zesco will battle it out against Nkana this Sunday at Lusaka’s Nkoloma Stadium.
Zesco secretary, Justin Mumba, confirmed in a telephone interview from Ndola yesterday that defender Willie Chinyama, midfielder Rainford Kalaba and striker Enock Sakala would not be released for the match against Mozambique.
The national team is expected to go in camp today or tomorrow in Lusaka.
Mumba said they have already written to the Football Association of Zambia (FAZ) acting general secretary Fidelis Banda informing him about their plans.
He said they were waiting for a feedback from FAZ.
Mumba said Zesco wanted to lineup a formidable team against Nkana.
“Should we win the Coca-Cola Cup, the money will help us to prepare for next year’s Champions League,†Mumba said.
Mumba explained that last year Zesco played the Mosi Cup final without three national team players who were on national duty in Ethiopia for the Confederation of East and Central Africa Football Association Senior Almoundi tournament.
Zesco silenced Red Arrows 2-0 without defender Kunda Mushota, Kalaba and striker Jonas Sakuwaha.
“The game against Nkana will be tough and we need to be at our best.
I hope FAZ and the soccer fans will bear with us,†Mumba said.
The other Cosafa semi-final clash will be between South Africa and Botswana at Germiston Stadium in Johannesburg.
And when contacted, national team manager Solly Pandor referred queries to FAZ.
“I cannot comment on that issue….. the FAZ secretariat is better placed to comment.
I will comment after FAZ clears the matter,†Pandor said.
Zambia lifted the Cosafa trophy for the third time last year after defeating Angola 2-0 at Lusaka’s Independence Stadium. Zambia were also champions in 1997 and 1998.
I think it is a wise decision by ZESCO to hold on to some key players. Come weekend Kalampa will be electrocuted.
#8 RN Pretoria.
Watch this space for the results.
Nkana, like Zambia, is the most dangerous team to meet at the moment.
Nkana is on fire and will shock any opponent along the way
You could’nt have put it any better.
Long live Kalampa
Kalampa is back folks.
Group of death
Cameroon, Ivory Coast, Nigeria, Zambia
# 13I dont see cameroon, I vory coast and nigerai being in the same group, these teams are seeded according to their FIfa ranking and their previous performance at AFCON. But I foresee Zambia being in the following group: I vory Coast, Namibia, Sudan and Zambia. 2 teams advance to the second round from the same group that is Zambia and Ivory Coast.
Sorry,I mean #13
# 5 justice, thanks for the update on our captain. Any news across in sweden, how is Isaac chansa performig?
#16 Isaac Chansa did not play for his club Helsingborg who lost 3-4 away to Gefle. The problem is that there too many non European players at Chansa’s club, I think five in the squad. Jacob Mulenga was not part the Strasbourg Team that lost 0-1 at home to Le Mans. Mbesumas club drew 1-1 Vs Fenerbache (Defending champions in Turkey). Do not know whether Mbesuma played. On Wednesday Katongo and Brondby travel to my town Silkeborg for a cup game Vs Silkeborg IF (First Division)and I look forward to watching this game