Zambian youngsters James Nene Sibeene and Robert ‘Sugar Sugar’ Banda have completed moves to Swedish side IFK Stocksund from Sporting Lusaka.
The teenage duo have been in Sweden since early June attending trials before securing their first moves outside Zambia.
Sporting Lusaka confirmed that both players have joined Stocksund on loan, with the club expressing its pride in seeing two of its young players take the next step in their development.
“A new challenge in Scandinavia awaits the highly-rated midfielder,” Sporting Lusaka said in announcing Sibeene’s move.
The club described Banda, an academy graduate, as beginning “a new chapter” in Scandinavia.
Both players have already featured for Stocksund in friendly matches and have made their competitive debuts.
Sibeene and Banda came off the bench in Stocksund’s 2-0 defeat by Karlbergs two weeks ago, before Sibeene earned his first start in the club’s following league match.
The 18-year-old midfielder delivered a commanding performance and completed the entire match as Stocksund recorded a 5-0 victory over Gefle.
Banda, meanwhile, came off the bench and scored Stocksund’s final goal to open his competitive account for the Swedish club.
Sibeene has made an immediate impression in midfield, scoring twice in four appearances – two friendlies and two league matches – while establishing himself as a dominant presence in the centre of the pitch.
Banda has also shown his attacking threat, providing two assists in a 4-2 victory during the pre-season period. The winger was also impressive in a 1-1 draw in another friendly, with Sibeene scoring for Stocksund.
The move represents another important step in the development of two players who have already gained international experience with Zambia.
Both Sibeene and Banda were members of the Zambia Under-17 squad that represented the country at last year’s FIFA U-17 World Cup in Qatar.
Banda had previously attracted attention in Sweden after spending time with Stockholm-based AIK in September last year, where he trained alongside Nigeria youngster Zadok Yohanna.
Yohanna has since secured a move to English Premier League side Brighton in a deal reportedly worth more than £20 million.
For Sibeene and Banda, the move to Stocksund provides an opportunity to gain experience in European football while continuing their development away from home.
Sporting Lusaka will now hope the pair can build on their promising starts and establish themselves in Sweden before making the next move in their careers.
