Any hopes Christopher Katongo and Jacob Mulenga may have had of going to the 2015 Africa Cup have been quashed after Honour Janza shut the door on them.
Katongo of PSL club Bidvest wits and Jacob from Turkish second division club Adana Demirspor have both been overlooked for Zambia’s provisional 26-man team named on Tuesday for final team selection.
The ex-Zambia captain has not been part of Janza’s plans since he was banished from the team after the 0-0 away draw against Niger on October 11 in a 2015 Africa Cup Group F qualifier.
Jacob’s unsatisfactory showing in the Group F qualifiers also made his selection chances slim despite shining in Turkey where he has scored seven goals in 13 matches.
But Emmanuel Mayuka of Southampton and has yet to score for the English club has made the provisional team.
Also overlooked for selection is Israeli-based striker Rodgers Kola who is Africa’s top striker in Israel with seven goals in 13 games.
Kola of league leaders Kiryat Shmona has scored four goals more than Evans Kangwa who has made the provisional team.
Meanwhile, Nkana striker Reynold Kampamba and midfielder Lubambo Musonda of Armenian club Ulisses have made the team.
Red Arrow winger Bruce Musakanya has been picked so too has his club mate, 2014 Cosafa U20 Cup winning striker and Golden Boot winner Patrick Ngoma who scored seven goals at the just-ended tournament in Zimbabwe has received Janza’s nod.
Janza is expected to name his final 23 by the January 7 deadline set by CAF for final team lists for the tournament Equatorial Guinea will host from january 17 to February 8.
Meanwhile, Zambia fly out to Johannesburg on December 26 for final phase of team selection and training camp .
Zambia will also play South Africa in a friendly on January 4 in a 15h00 kick off at Orlando Stadium.
Team:
Goalkeepers:Kennedy Mweene (Mamelodi Sundowns,South Africa), Daniel Munyau (Red Arrows), Toaster Nsabata (Nchanga Rangers), Joshua Titima(Power Dynamos)
Defenders:Bronson Chama(Red Arrows), Christopher Munthali, Donashano Malama (Both Nkana),Stopilla Sunzu (Sochaux, France),Emmanuel Mbola (Hapoel Ra’anana,Israel), Aaron Katebe (FC Platinum, Zimbabwe), Davies Nkausu (Bloemfontein Celtic, South Africa)
Midfielders:Roderick Kabwe (Zanaco), Kondwani Mtonga (Zesco United),Rainford Kalaba(TP Mazembe,DRC),Chisamba Lungu(FC Ural, Russia),Lubambo Musonda (FC Ulisses,Armenia), Bruce Musakanya(Red Arrows), Nathan Sinkala(Grasshopper,Switzerland),Spencer Sautu (Green Eagles), Mukuka Mulenga (Bloemfontein Celtic, South Africa)
Strikers: Given Singuluma (TP Mazembe, DRC), Emmanuel Mayuka (Southampton, England), Patrick Ngoma (Red Arrows), Jackson Mwanza (Zesco United), Evans Kangwa (Hapoel Ra’anana, Israel), Ronald Kampamba (Nkana)
At least Jacob Mulenga and Roger Kola should have been given a chance. On Chris, yes, the guy is finished. Surely coach, how can you choose Chamanga ahead of Jacob Mulenga and Roger Kola? Shocking decision.
And why Mayuka over Jacob and Kola? The guy is doing nothing at Southampton and he looks heavy and lacking in match fitness.
Are u sure you have seen Chamanga’s name in this AFCON Team? Put on specs and read again. ROJA KOLA is one of the most wasteful strikers to ever play for Zambia. He is in the same line as Festus Mbewe. Useless striker! USELESS to say the least. I always wonder why you guys always mentions his name!
Good job on Mukuka Mulenga!! He is a good player OMG
My view too. Coach job well done to add Mukuka Mulenga! Go Chipolopolo & as Zambia hope for HH also to reberate our nation economically, socially etc. Go HH go, Go copper bullets go!
Uhhh about time.
It looks like it’s a young team but, I am warred with our strikers.
Defenders and midfielders looks stable but strikers imwebantu!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Nama defenders bene awe shuwa – Munthali na Malama!!!? Damn!!!
This is unfair if politicians can be recycled over and over why can’ t footballers be. This is double standards by the same country and hypocritical. I am very upset by this. A re-think is required. Afterall these guys are fit and in any case Katongo in particular has been scoring goal against Mbezuma’s team. What should he do to prove his point?
chamanga and Jacob Mulenga are not national team material. Chris Katongo has done his duty for Zambia, let him rest.
Munthali and Chama are questionable defenders. I hope I am wrong, but against South Africa, our defence will be exposed.
Lastly coach, – please look at the captain issue. Is Sinzu the right guy?
the team is very very average to do wounders at the afcon.gud luck any way
me I don’t see a good team to do great thing at AFCON we are lacking experience in the team . you see what will happen at the afcon we are going to came out the first in the group
Just don’t hope for anything. This team without a coach is heading only towards disappointment.
You tell Janza to remove the old legs, he does just that, but you complain again, ati why why?
Yaba, kaya! Unfit players like Sinkala, Singuluma, benchwarmer Nkausu, slow motion player Munthali, off form Mayuka are included at the expense of performing players. Let’s wait for Bafana bafana game. Otherwise this is an extremely below average team. My hope is that it is a provisional squad, Kola and Jacob May have chances of being included in the squad. In some other media I saw Chamanga’s name, why on earth his name appeared on the list beats me. We need depth and endurance. Players like Bruce are wasteful. No football Head. This is not a zpl.
To be honest Janza himself is not supposed to be in the team. Zambia won’t win any game starting with Bafana friendly until the last game in Equatorial Guinea
Janza is not a coach what zambia need now.Why Nsabata,Malama,Muntali,Bruce and Evans?pls Janza call Justine zulu,francis kasonde,mbesuma,Mwamba from power dynamos and Chris katongo.Given a chance 2 coach zambia national soccer team,70% of players janza selected cannot meet my team c. Janza its not too late for you 2 drop some undeserved players.
That’s the duty of a coach to select a team he thinks can perform, everybody can’t be a coach, this is his time and urs will come later