Teenage sensation Miguel Changa Chaiwa was thrown into the deep end on Friday as he was given the job of protecting the back four.
The 18 year old acquainted himself well despite Zambia suffering a 1-0 defeat to Mali.
With Zambia playing a compact game, Chaiwa gave Emmanuel Banda and Kings Kangwa the freedom to advance forward on the break.
When Mali’s Tottenham Hotspur midfield Yves Bissouma was introduced after the break, it was the teenage who was given the mantle to track down Enock Mwepu’s former Brighton teammate.
For someone who was just winning his second cap, he will be happy with how he handled the experienced Spurs man.
Chaiwa made his Zambia debut in February in a friendly match against Iraq.
Zambia has struggled to find a holding midfielder to replace AFCON winner Nathan Sinkala.
The likes of Boyd Musonda, Dickson Chapa and Kelvin Kapumbu have been tried but they have failed to cement a place in the Chipolopolo XI.
Scanning through the under age teams and lower tiers, Zambia is not blessed with holding midfielders.
Sporting Lusaka’s Kelvin Mulenga (17) and Gift Siame (17) of Atletico could be the other youngsters worth having a look at but for now Chaiwa is probably Zambia’s symbol of present and future.
Comfortable in central defence and right full back, Chaiwa’s versatility could help in the long run.
The 18 year recently trekked to Switzerland and joined BSC Young Boys from Evans Kangwa’s Shamuel.
He joins Clifford Mulenga and Emmanuel Mbola as having signed for a European club without featuring in the Zambian Super League
He’s brilliant footballer