The ongoing national selection exercise today (Sunday) sees a Midlands Select side coached by Wedson Nyirenda, Numba Mumamba and Dan Kabwe face off with a provincial select side drilled by Boyd Mulwanda Chintu Kampamba at Nkoloma Stadium.
A similar drill will be conducted on the Copperbelt with Beston Chambeshi, Aggrey Chiyangi and Mwenya Chipepo leading a Copperbelt Select side that will be up against a provincial select side headed by Tenant Chilumba and Dabid Chilufya.
The provincial select sides comprise the best players picked from the provincial selection exercise.
Making up the midlands provincial select side are best players from Central, Eastern, Lusaka, Southern and Western while the Copperbelt Select has the cream from Luapula, Muchinga, North Western, Northern and Copperbelt.
Nyirenda and Chambeshi will lead selected sides comprising some national division one and super league players.
The final phase will see the staging of an All Stars versus The Rest match where national team coaches will keep an eye on the unearthed talent.
COPPERBELT SELECT
GOALKEEPERS
Victor Chabu (Nchanga Rangers), Willard Mwanza (Power Dynamos), Gwazani Banda (Mutondo Stars)
DEFENDERS
Kondwani Chiboni, Sekanji Siame (both Power Dynamos), Mathews Banda (Nkana), Moses Menda (Konkola Blades), John Chishimba, Mathews Chabala (both Zesco United), Shapi Chikondi (Nchanga Rangers), Owen Mwamba (Mufulira Wanderers)
MIDFIELDERS
Oliver Lumbiya, Charles Zulu, Patrick Gondwe (all Nkana), Linos Makwaza (Power Dynamos), Clement Mulenga (Forest Rangers), Titus Chansa (Mutondo Stars), Abraham Siankombo (Zesco United), Emmanuel Sakala (Konkola Blades)
STRIKERS
Alex Ng’onga, (Zesco United), Francis Mubanga (Konkola Blades), Ndonji Nkandu (Nchanga Rangers), Leonard Makaonlonga, Ian Sindaye (both Forest Rangers).
MIDLANDS TEAM
GOALKEEPERS
Lameck Siame (Zanaco), Bradley Mweene (Nkwazi), Jeban Tembo (Red Arrows)
DEFENDERS
Chanda Chileshe (FC Muza), George Ndhlovu (Nkwazi), Christopher Mhango, Prosper Chiluya (both Zanaco), Mweene Mumbi (Green Buffaloes), Isaac Shamujompa (Zanaco), Moonga Chilimba (Green Buffaloes), Killian Kanguluma (Kabwe Warriors)
MIDFIELDERS
Paul Katema (Red Arrows), Dominic Kanda (Zanaco), Kelvin Mwanza (FC Muza), Golden Mashata (Green Buffaloes), Simon Tonga (Kabwe Warriors), John Kosamu (Green Buffaloes), Mathews Mashimikilo (Nkwazi), Gift Siame (Athletico Lusaka), Ackim Mumba (Red Arrows), Amity Shamende (Green Eagles)
STRIKERS
Ricky Banda (Red Arrows), Andrew Phiri (FC Muza), Friday Samu, Martin Njobvu (both Green Buffaloes)
NOTE: Games will kick off at 15:00 hours today (Sunday) at Nkoloma and KPF Stadia in Lusaka and Kitwe respectively.
I am disappointed that this exercise has gone to clubs. This should have gone to schools and communities. That is where the raw talent undiscovered talent is.
We need different names we have not heard about. Go in villages and deep rurals there players who can do better than the players you have picked.
There we are again, going back for the same Premier league players!
Why don’t we involve the talent we have not seen from rural areas. Those places have their own amateur leagues; organise tournaments for them and you will be amazed at the talent they have. Why do we want to go for the same players from the leagues we have been watching on television?
An opportunity has arisen, let’s not be lazy but go out there in rural places and identify talent.
Namumolu mwatalala katema Paul, Alex n,gonga i thought you have gone ku dundu mwenze to search for players who will help us to build the national team here in southern province are complaining that picking players from the same copper belt and lusaka.