Player Ratings: Bafana Bafana 1-0 Chipolopolo

Zambia lost narrowly to South Africa in a friendly match at Johannesburg’s Orlando Stadium.

The Copperbullets had 53% possession in the first half but did not record a single shot on target.

Below the Zambianfootball.co.zm takes a look at how players rated and check out who was the standout player.

Kennedy Mweene – 7/10 – He was not troubled by the South African attack as the South Africans did not have a shot on target the entire first half. He exudes a lot of confidence between the posts and was almost caught out when he decided to dribble an on-coming striker when it looked easier to clear the ball.

He remains the captain without the arm-band as he led from behind issuing instructions to his colleagues and organising the back-line. Sunzu at one point was seen explaining to him why he had let his man loose.

Davies Nkausu -6/10 – Stuck to the basic duties of defending and held his position very well conservatively venturing up the right flank. This meant that he hardly supported attack. He was never caught out of position

Rodrick Kabwe – 4/10 – The Zanaco winger had it rough against the fast running South African players. He was beaten for pace and at times just looked static. He however he was strong when dealing with aerial balls.

Kondwani Mtonga – 9/10 – Clearly the man of the match as he brought in a sense of calmness in the defence. He defended well when asked he had to track his man infield and he picked his man well when the strikers ran at him. Even when under pressure, he never panicked and helped with the build ups varying his play with long balls and playing out of defence through the midfield.

Stopilla Sunzu – 8/10 – The China bound former skipper did not show any signs of lacking game time. He was tough on the ball, showed great timing and bullied his challengers with ease. His partnership and understanding with Kondwani was impeccable and the two kept the a good distance between themselves.

Nathan Sinkala -6/10 – He was left to do the donkey work in a very busy midfield. He was he hardly misplaced any passes but his trade mark long range passing lacked on the day and this starved the wide runners of his through ball. He seems to be missing the partner next to him or is it just him not ticking?

Lubambo Musonda – 5/10 – Great effort by the U20 skipper but he was overwhelmed by the occasion. He lacked the penetration on the flank and hardly put in an effective cross the period was on the pitch. He ran out of tricks in his bag as the South African defenders were up to the task. He up side was that he showed a lot of commitment tracking back his marker.

He failed to replicate his star showing in the final qualifiers against Mozambique and Cape Verde.

Given Singuluma – 7/10 – A serious workhorse in the midfield but again seemed to cover too much ground reducing his effectiveness. He defended well and made critical interceptions in the game deep in his own area but also popped up in the final third to record one of the two shots off target recorded by Zambia in the first half. His runs and knack for goals could better benefit the team if he spent more time terrorising defenders in the final third.

Emmanuel Mayuka – 5/10 – The 2012 AFCON golden boot winner failed to hit the target or register a good shot in the 44 minutes he was on the pitch. He could have put Chipolopolo ahead from a Kalaba free kick when he failed to make contact in the 6 yard box. When on the ball, he at times tried to do too much alone but to little effect.

Chisamba Lungu – 7/10 – A genius on the ball and hard to disposses. He was played in a very advanced position just behind the main striker. He helped the team maintain lots of possession in the first half with his ability to work his way out of tight spaces. He was expected to be the one to unlock the tight Bafana Bafana defence but he failed to find either Mayuka or the wide players in any dangerous position.

Rainford Kalaba – 6/10 – The Chipolopolo captain showed flashes of brilliance and tormented the South African right back who could not keep up with his skill and pace. He could have provided the goal in the first goal when he left his marker for dead but his square ball intended for Mayuka was blocked. He however, was going quiet in certain portions of the game.

Substitutes:

Jackson Mwanza- 6/10 – He came in just before half time for Mayuka. He could have given Zambia a goal after a loose ball fail to him on the edge of the area but he ballooned his shot. He is a willing runner and played on the shoulder of the defenders but was unfortunate to have erroneously been called off-side twice.

Danny Munyao 7/10 – Replaced Mweene during the referee’s optional time before the break. He made two brilliant saves to keep Zambia in the game till the end. Can hardly be faulted for the goal conceded.

James Chamanga 5/10 – Came in for Chisamba Lungu in the second half. Not much to show for the veteran striker but for the one moment where his persistence saw him dispossess a South African defender and help the ball roll for Jackson Mwanza who shot over the bar for what turned out to be the best chance of the second half.

Christopher Munthali 5/10 – Came in for Sunzu in the second half. A better showing by Munthali but it was clear that he and Kondwani were not coordinating as well.

Mukuka Mulenga – 5/10 – Came in for Lubambo. Did very little to influence the game

Spencer Sautu – Came in for Sinkala with two minutes to go. His two moments on the ball showed his determination to push forward and wrestle for the ball.

Honour Janza 6/10 – He seems to have a first team which is likely to hold its own at any level going by the first half display. The team showed a lot of discipline in the first half closing down spaces quickly and starving South Africa of possession with good movement on and off the ball.

He kept his most dangerous player in attack Given Singuluma far from the goal mouth action by making him play very deep in midfield in what seemed to have been instruction to play deep in midfield.

He also gave chance to his players to prove their worth by utilizing all the possible substitutions on the day.