The Chipolopolo will be in Rwanda competing at the CHAN tournament which kicks off next week.
Lwandamina has picked a 23 man squad which includes three goalkeepers Jacob Banda (Zesco United), Racha Kola, (Zanaco), Lawrence Mulenga (Kabwe Warriors).
The subject of who should start in goal for this team has been a matter of debate in the past week and as expected has brought up divided opinion on who is the better of the two top contenders, Jacob and Racha.
ZamFoot’s Coach Franklyn gives his perspective on the two goalies;
Jacob is the more confident of the two and that confidence easily radiates to the rest of the team. The Zesco United captain who has come be known for performing some diving antics whenever his team is leading at Levy Mwanawasa stadium is equally more vocal.
Kola on the other hand has a ‘bigger presence’ in goal than Jacob which is intimidating to opposing players and he has greater command in the box. He is very good at organizing his defence and you will always see him pointing out to defenders on who to pick during set-pieces. He has great mental strength, even for him to come back from a lay-off to have a great good season for Zanaco and be picked ahead of U23 captain Toaster Nsabata speaks of his positive attitude.
When it comes to international experience, Jacob far exceeds his counterpart having represented Zambia as the first choice goalkeeper at the 2007 U20 World Cup and has been on the fringes of the national team and was part of the 2009 CHAN squad that reached the semifinals while Racha’s national team career is nothing to write home about.
For the more visible attributes: Distribution – Jacob; Reflexes – Racha; Aerial duels – Racha; Concentration – Racha; Positioning – Jacob
Very close to call between the two goalies but one thing is that we have two very good goalkeepers at the CHAN tournament.
Jacob Banda is useless. He is in that squad because of Chicken, both coach and players from Zesco Utd. What has happened to Titima and Munyao? At one time these two guys were “breathing heavily” on Mweene’s back. I can’t comment on Racha Kola as I have not watched him before. Jacob Banda’s dancing skills at Levy Mwanawasa with Zesco has earned him a place in the national team.
Munyao is the keeper I have watched without any mistakes, but some guys are saying he is out on military training.
– That Nsabata awe mwee,so confused boy
– Muchelenganga, alachinchi
– Titima, where is he?
– Nakambala Leopards had a good goalie, Mapulanga or something like that. Really good young man, early 20s.
It is time to go get some keepers from Luapula province.
Moses mapulanga of nakambale leopards has been overlooked after the death of keagan mumba after a vry successful under 20 cosafa cup in Botswana .da chap has continued performing for his club
LWANDAMINA IMPRESSED WITH CHIPOLOPOLO RESPONSE AS ZAMBIA CONCLUDES JOHANNESBURG TRAINING CAMP
Zambia wrapped up the final week of CHAN preparations in Johannesburg with coach George Lwandamina declaring the Chipolopolo near battle ready as the team battled PSL side Mamelodi Sundowns to a 0-0 at Chloorkop.
Prior to kickoff, Lwandamina demanded hard work, positive attitudes and for his squad to rise above the pain barrier. At the final whistle, Lwandamina and his staff were left with a luxury he has long demanded since the Johannesburg camp commenced: the headache every coach desires – competitive players, good form, injury free, flowing beautiful football and creation of clear-cut scoring chances which he must now work to transform into goals and sustain into the CHAN final tournament.
Skipper Chris Katongo shone, Isaac Chansa was industrious and creative , Spencer Sautu was a bull-dozing hard worker while the backlines of two sides he used either side of half gave assurances of solidity at the back. Benson Sakala, Patson Daka and Conlyde Luchanga all had very good outings and chances to score. But as Christopher Munthali, Stephen Kabamba and Luchanga, none could beat goalkeepers Kennedy Mweene or Wayne Sandilands, leaving Lwandamina and his staff with notes on how to transform attack and chances into goals.
Goalkeepers Jacob Banda and Racha Kola were hardly tested by Sundowns strike force of Teko Modise, Anthony Laffor, Katlego Mashego, Surprise Moriri or indeed substitutes Siyanda Zwane, Fiston Abdul and Khaya Shozi.
Overall, every member of the 23 man squad will stake a claim for starting places when Zambia opens her CHAN account against Zimbabwe on 19 January in Rubavu.
“We are now at 80% to 90% of our preparations. The remainder of that is what we will do in the few days before kick-off and before we finally declare the squad ready,” Lwandamina said at the end of the match.
“We are solid. I’m happy with how we are pressing and closing gaps. The essence of these training games like I’ve consistently said is not so much the score line but looking at how much we have progressed with our preparations. We are creating chances and in the first half alone, we had eight clear chances to score, more than we created in one-half alone in our 2-1 Ober Angola. Now we have to work at translating those chances into goals. We are solid all round and am sure we will be ready and very competitive,” Lwandamina added.
Sundowns coach Pitso Mosimane hailed the hard work of the Zambian team and wished Chipolopolo well in Rwanda.
“You have a good side here. Lots of young players but talented and being inspired by the good work and experience of the guys like Chris and Isaac. You should do well there and wish you all the best,” Mosimane said as he ended exchanging notes with Lwandamina.
Skipper Katongo expressed confidence the team had progressed well and called on Zambian fans to back the boys to succeed.
“We are at 90% and have done lots of work. What remains now is the 10% which is the tactical part. Otherwise, we are set and appeal to the fans to support us because we are going out there to perform and make them proud,” the 2012 AFCON winning skipper said.
Chipolopolo fly out of Johannesburg tomorrow morning.
Iyi conpotition chan ni ya bwanji kansi? Ileta confusion nakudya tax payer chabe,.is it registered ku caf.
It’s a great outing ,wishing you all the best ,chris and chansa encourage the guys to play as a team because you know it all.
Go Zambia go ,technical bench Remember to identify weaknesses and act in time.
Jacob is useless. He’s in the team because he’s from Zesco..
Jacob is USEFUL. He is in the national team because he has worked hard at club level and has earned his position on merit FULUSTOP!
The only keepers that are either as good or better than those in th camp are munyao( currently undergoing military training) and titima(has been injured since I don’t know and hasn’t bn anywhere near power dynamos)…….Let’s work wt what we have.Yes jacob banda makes errors sumtyms but we don’t hv any goalkeeper above his class…all ZPL keepers are either average or below average,so let’s not act like Lwandamina overlooked some David De Gea and picked Jacob and Kola…both are not bad.
@Flyod kikiki ati Sumtyms … is that error like Jacob’s mistiming?
Off the topic, Lille has given Stopilla Sunzu a rare starting berth in a coupe de la ligue quarter final game away from home against Guingamp and the game is currently tied at nill all with five minutes left to the end of the game.
Jacob is a good goalie but Racha I have my doubts to be honest
chris and isaac guys do the best so that u can came for the good results.