2012 AFCON winning captain Christopher Katongo has named his all time Chipolopolo best eleven and he could only find space for himself on the bench.
The line up is littered with talent but there are also some key misses including Alex Chola , Dickson Makwaza, Dick Chama and Charles ‘Charlie Cool’ Musonda.
Makwaza who was nicknamed ‘Barbed-Wire’ due to his tenacity in defence was one of the most decorated players in Zambian soccer history.
Makwaza captained the Zambian national team that made its first ever appearance at the African Cup of Nations tournament in Egypt in 1974.
Alex Chola on the other hand is widely regarded as one of the most gifted players Zambia has produced.
Chola made a mark at Mufulira Blackpool and Power Dynamos before becoming Dynamos coach and winning the Coach of the Year award in 1992.
Chola died in a plane crash off the coast of Gabon on 27 April 1993.
Charles Musonda had his career cut short due to injuries but he is regarded by many as one of the best players to have come out of Zambia.
Musonda won multiple titles with Belgian giants Anderlecht between 1987 and 1997.
Back to his best eleven,Katongo has picked legendary Efford Chabala as the goalkeeper ahead of Kennedy Mweene who makes the bench.
In defence, Katongo has gone for a mixture with 2012 AFCON winner Joseph Musonda making the cut alongside legends like Ashios Melu, the father of powerful freekicks, Elijah Litana, and the hard tackling Kapambwe Mulenga.
In Midfield Katongo has partnered Andrew Sinkala, elder brother to 2012 AFCON winner, Nathan with the late Derby Makinka.
Above them in attacking positions Katongo has named, One man Commando, Johnston Bwalya, Timothy Mwitwa, nicknamed the teacher and arguably Zambia’s greatest Football player of all time Kalusha Bwalya.
Kalusha is Zambia’s eighth-most capped player and third on the list of all-time top goalscorers behind Godfrey Chitalu and Alex Chola.
The left footed ball wizard was named African Footballer of the Year in 1988 by the magazine France Football and was nominated for the 1996 FIFA World Player of the Year where he was voted the 12th-best player in the world, the first to be nominated after playing the entire year for a non-European club.
For a striker Katongo has gone with an obvious choice in Godfrey Ucar Chitalu,the highest scoring player in the history of Zambian football.
Chitalu scored more than 100 goals (107) in all competitions in 1972, more than Gerd Müller’s total in the same year and Lionel Messi’s total in 2012, both of which are often referred to by journalists as ‘world records’.
He is the 8th highest goal scorer in men’s national team football with 79 goals in 111 appearances.
Portuguese legend, Cristiano Ronaldo leads the list with 122 goals in 198 appearances for the 2016 European Champions.
Katongo named himself on the bench alongside Isaac Chansa, Collins Mbesuma, Mweene, Stophila Sunzu, Gibby Mbasela and Kelvin Mutale.
France Women’s National Team head coach Herve Renard who led Zambia to their only AFCON title is the coach alongside Patrice Beaumelle, George Lwandamina and Honor Janza.
Below is what Katongo posted on his Facebook page:
Here my Best Starting XI Chipolopolo (Copper Bullets ⚽🇿🇲.
Formation: 1:4:3:2:1
Coach: Herve Renard
Asst Coach: B. Patrice
Asst Coach: George Lwandamina
Asst Coach: Honor Janza
E. Chabala
J. Musonda. A. Melu. E. Litana. K. Mulenga
A. Sinkala D. Makinka
Kalusha Bwalya T. Mwitwa Johnston Bwalya
Godfrey Ucar Chitalu
Sub⬆️⬇️
Kelvin Mutale
Christopher Katongo
Stopila Sunzu
Kennedy Mweene
Gibby Mbasela
Collins Mbesuma
Isaac Chansa
This is not an easy starting XI because Zambia has produced players, abakali.
Let’s do this, what would your starting XI look like? Starting with players from 1993-2012🇿🇲⚽
Forgive he was not there when goalkeepers Happy Malama and Emmanuel Mwape played, and the best ever dribblers Zambia has ever produced Samuel Zoom Ndhlovu and Bernard Bomber Chanda! How about the best and hardworking midfielder Zambia has ever produced Boniface Fumanchu Simutowe, just to mention but a few.
Ba Mukuka,
Not everyone can start the game at the same time. Knowing just dribbling may not give u an automatic headstart to the game. E. G, Gibby Mbasela was a dribbler but wasn’t a starter and every coach has at least his best 11 at any point in time depending on game plan. Give your best starting lineup, from 1993-2012 Or replace some players whom u think can do better from the lineup and game plan suggested by Katongo as we chat.
C J
Well articulated, m sure Ba mukuka missed Katongo’s point and sure he gets it now…