The Zambia national team on Sunday afternoon went down 1 – 0 to South Africa in an international friendly match played at Orlando Stadium in South Africa.
A well taken 81st minute goal by substitute Thuso Phala was enough to down the Chipolopolo in a match of two halves which saw Zambia dominate the first stanza.
Honour Janza will be satisfied with his sides first half performance as the Rainford Kalaba captained side dominated the match and controlled the game despite not testing the South African goalie with only two shots wide and 53% of possession.
Zambia looked fluid with a very good passing game and Chisamba Lungu key in helping retain possession in the middle if the pack though he lacked the penetrative pass to find his front men.
Kalaba looked dangerous running on the left flank while Lubambo Musonda had a subdued performance on the right flank while Nathan Sinkala mopped up well on occasions showing great anticipation to cover the his defenders when out of position.
Mayuka who was well policed was substituted in the 44th minute for Jackson Mwanza before Kennedy Mweene who again looked to be the leader on the pitch was forced off the pitch due to injury and replaced by Danny Munyao just before the interval.
The second half was a different affair with South Africa adding more pace to their attack.
With the solid defensive partnership of Stopilla Sunzu and Kondwani Mtonga, who gave a man of the match performance, broken after Sunzu was replaced by Christopher Munthali, cracks were beginning to emerge in the Zambian defense with the left back manned by Rodrick Kabwe being tormented by the South African late runners.
Munyao had to come off his line to brilliantly save before a similar run beat a static Zambian defense for the goal.
South Africa continued to torment the Zambian defense and twice came close when another run into the box saw Munyao spill the ball but make amends on second try. South Africa could have gone two goals up when a good move split the Zambian defence but the resultant goal was disallowed for off side.
Zambia’s best chance in the second half fell to Mwanza who was teed up after an effort from substitute James Chamanga who replaced Chisamba early in the first half, however Mwanza blasted over the bar from inside the box.
There were also appearances for Mukuka Mulenga who replaced Lubambo and an inspirational 88th minute appearance for Spencer Sautu who replaced Sinkala.
SA: Keet (Khuzwayo 62′), Ngcongca, Matlaba (Hlatshwayo 86′), Mathoho, Coetzee, Sangweni (Zwane 52′), Letsholonyane (Vilakazi 58′), Masango (Phala 74′), Manyisa, Ndulula (Parker 44′), Rantie.
Zambia: Mweene (Munyao 45′), Nkausu, Musonda (Mulenga 62′), Mtonga, Sunzu (Munthali 55′), Kabwe, Sinkala (Sautu 88′), Lungu (Chamanga 57′), Kalaba, Singuluma, Mayuka (Mwanza 45′).
[Image by Kickoff]
janza bring back Jacob. mayuka rans around but does not score.
Jacob for Mayuka ok yena I agree as the latter has been worse than the former!
U can’t go to the AFCON with the likes of chamanga. Janza should listern to fans,get jacob or any other striker.
True Chamanga, Jackson Mwanza, Mukuka, Kabwe, should dropped and replaced by Jacob Mulenga. Katongo Chris can also be a good addition to the team.
Ba john are u still blaming Koeman for Mayuka flopping for Zambia?
Zambia needs Katebe to partner SUNZU PUSH KONDWANI TO BE IN THE HOLE AND KOLA OR JACOB UP FRONT MAYUKA SHOULD BE SUPER SUB.
You can not go to the AFCON with small boys and expect miracles to happen. We will just be there to make up numbers! PATHETIC Janza should not be in the coach. We are DOOMED with that chap in charge!
oh oho. the baby has woken up and is making noise. time to prepare cerellac
Paradox, i have refused to stoop to your low level and call you names. I will always call a spade a spade and not a big spoon!
Ba Janza we need goals not motivational speakers like chamanga. Bring pipo tht wil motivate us wit goals not namashiwi. That munthali chap is a time bomb we saw him during da qualifiers.
And what is the consensus on Mukuka, do you guys he will add value to the team?
Janza tofwa kuti akulwalika Shiki uyu black muntu.Its better i dnt put too much hope in this team cz m seen amalilo no musebanya ku afcon.
Kalusha Bwalya and Honour Janza have hijacked the National team and Zambian football in general. They are a cancer and should be kicked out. We are sick and tired of them. Enough is enough!
We are going to be eaten alive by the Arabs if we go to the AFCON with these bunch of small boys. We need steel and experienced players in the middle of the park. Isaac Chansa, Jacob Mulenga, Christoher Katongo and Roger Kola should be summoned to the team!
ati pre-season friendly, Kkkkkkk which season is that now? I thought it’s a tournament.
Mayuka should be converted into a winger from being our top man. Katebe partner Sunzu, move Mtonga into the hole behind any top man. His pass rate is excellent for those killer passes upfront. He can easily create things for Sate Sate or Jackson Mwanza or even the under 20 Inspirational Patrick ‘Dude’ Ngoma. Fresh call ups must be veteran Joseph Musonda to provide cover for Mbola, Chris Katongo, more fire power and depth upfront and Richard Kasonde to add steal in the midfield.
I can go with most of this. Its good we have young players in squad who really deserve to be the thrust of our play, that is correct, but the ratio of experienced and afcon debutants is a little too imbalanced in favour of debutants.
Was it Paradox or Positive asking why people are asking for Felix Katongo, i will tell you why, it’s because even if Felix is unfit or whatever if you put him on the field at any stage he is going to drive to create things – you know what you are going to get!!.. The same cannot be said of some of the other players notably the debutants.
Oh and Felix is playing football north africa, no one should forget
Can we really give a debut Afcon to this many players and survive??. Even Dennis Banda, we need him, a player with experience we know we can rely on. Come on now…
CHIPOLOPOLO needs to sort themselves fast.
Maybe what this match showed is that yes we have some good players in the first 11 but beyond that we are struggling.
Kalu ati he is just interested in marketing players so that he get a cut when they are sold,now ask our selves what club coach,in his sound mind,watching Munthali and Malama cost their team would go on to sign them.Na strategy tabakwata,use players who will give a perfomance of a life time so that scouts will just be flocking to the team Hotel making inquiries hence you the greed Kalu you go home smiling,though it is wrong to get a cut.
Mayuka should be dropped at best or made a super sub at worst.. The guy is not good enough period! Renard benched him for a reason and Koeman has given him more than enough chance. Only in Zambia where we reward mediocrity and insulate it with apologetic comments like “back to the drawing board”..yazula manje drawing board na ma trial and error.. Call Jacob , call Kola and assess the boy.
We have Felix katongo super sub the game changer jacob mulenga christopher katongo joseph musonda isaac gattuso chansa hhhhhhhhhhmmmmmmmmm Ba Janza if you hear those names wat comes to your mind….??…. Workup….!!!!
I did not watch the game but from all the reports I can conclude the following:
1. The Chipolopolo in their current form are now depending on Kalaba and Lubambo to provide the chances for the strikers.
2. Chisamba Lungu is a flair player but he does not provide the final ball. For those who watch world football and shun the Zambian league you can compare him to Coutinho the Liverpool player. The difference between them is that Coutinho scores goals where as Chisamba doesn’t. This puts into question his role in the team.
3. As for the strikers all I can say is that Zambia hardly producers prolific goal scorers. We depend on a strong midfield to carry the team and score goals to complement our strikers.
4. Finally with the lack of quality fullbacks who are consistent, I can understand why Janza is is experimenting with a back three. I think in our current situation its the more practical option if he can make it work.
Keep calm and support chipolopolo we got this!
Why is everyone advocating for mtonga to be playmaker is it because of his passing record in ipl?
Forget about old folks like Jacob , Chris, and others this is the reason why our third republican president Levy MHRIP said Zambians forget easily. We where calling new and fresh blood now we are saying it was a mistake to allow Janza to chop them from the team. Jacob and Chris lamentably failed us such that we called for an immediate Chop to old dinosaurs. Here we are blaming Janza for listening to our calls to chop the old dinosaurs like Isaac Chansa, Jacob Mulenga, Christoher Katongo,joseph musonda, Felix katongo. Remember AFCON 2013 these chaps failed to defend the trophy. Please give Janza some space and let him do his Job. Yes Munthali, Malama, Mayuka and Kabwe are not suppose to be in the final team but old folks should not be near the team. Lets not eat our vomits, in fact I was very happy that we lost because the technical bench has now alot of work to do than relaxing after playing our rival. Go Zambia Go