Rainford Kalaba and Nathan Sinkala, the undefeated heroes of the Zambia 2012 African Cup of Nations, will this friday learn their fate for possible inclusion in Zambia’s World Cup qualifier squad against Nigeria .
Zambia coach, Wedson Nyirenda is expected to name his final squad at Football House for the mouth-watering clash in Uyo State, Nigeria on 7th October, 2017. Having ended the ‘international careers’ for Fwayo Tembo, Clatus Chama and Billy Mutale against public outcry, it will be interesting to see if the TP Mazembe duo are picked for the must win encounter in West Africa.
Following back to back wins over Algeria, the out spoken coach has the backing of Chipolopolo faithful behind him atleast for now. And it is that immunity that Nyirenda is likely to to leave out both players out of his squad.
Apart from the veteran Kondwani Mtonga, Nyirenda has Donashamo Malama as his plan B while Green Buffaloes’ Jackson Chirwa was omitted from the previous squad.
That leaves Sinkala as the only ready made option to anchor the engine room. Sinkala last played for Zambia a year ago. His chances of a possible recall are rated 1/5.
Kalaba’s inclusion in the team could be a welcome boast but there’s a tone from Nyirenda that he is rebuilding a new team and wants to do away with players with ego.
Collins Mbesuma, Fwayo and Clatus Chama have been discarded and Kalaba was also ignored. Chisamba Lungu was benched.
And the boys delivered in North Africa!
It was a strong statement from the coach.
We need kalaba, sikala plz
We need experience as Nigerians are a very strong and experienced team!
We need kalaba coach resolve matters. and move own kalaba has still have some football in him.
Kalaba is needed but the coach knows better.
Ndeloleshafye
kalaba must be called in the team
I would prefer Nathan Sinkala to that kondwani boy, he’s much focused in his play as a defensive midfielder
Lets forget the Algeria victories. This is a do or die game. I would include Nathan and Kalaba because of their experience. Nathan has some physical attributes and he can frustrate M.Obi who runs the Nigerian engine room.
The pace of Patson, Fashion, Augustine will worry the Nigerians though experience will be crucial.
Imwee forget kalaba and sinkala they add no value we have enough player especially Augustine mulenga,Fashion sakala,Edward chilufya, Emmanuel banda and more
Lets hope zambia can make history by defeating a west african team on thier soil as this has never been done in the history of zambia football before we start thinking of world cup.
Sorry, but when was the last time Kalaba and Sinkala delivered since 2012? We make it sound like these guys are some amazing game changers. In Ghana when we needed a win, did they deliver? Sinkala scored a goal, but Zambia still lost. In Lusaka against this same Nigerian team, no result then either. I can do without them.
I couldn’t agree with you more! I don’t even remember a game that we won and left memories during Kalaba’s tenure as captain with Sinkala as his deputy. Kalaba and Sinkala might as well just be overrated players. In my opinion, had these guys been included in the Algeria games, most likely we would be out of this competition by now. The best achievements for the Kalaba squad were mere draws.
Coach get rid of players with an ego, take players who are disciplined,commited and dedicated. We can do without them and the team has been rejuvenated with the fusing in of new talent who have a desire to achieve more.
Personally , I would suggest Nathan Sinkala, otherwise leave the team that destroyed Algeria untouched. NS has the skill to hold on to the ball and despite his slender stature is very good at breaking up build-ups from deep within the opposition half. He is a good free- kicker and can shoot from range, also his experience in continental cup competitions will be invaluable.
In the first match against Algeria – the defense was rather panicky and this needs to be remedied.
The Eagles will face a much more lively and courageous not too mention pace laced with skill Chipolopolo!!!
@GSK11 ,I conquer with you.
Sinkala with a slender body? BIG NO! Sinkala is one of the most well built Zambian players in recent times. Sinkala with skill? Hell NO; other than his physical play that normally puts the team in danger because of those unnecessary fouls, he posses no skill to right home about. In short, Sinkala is an average player that needs discipline in not committing those fouls near the 18
Okay its a tough one
The weakest link in the team
1.mtonga is too slow,sinkala is the best replacement
2.silwamba must be replaced is too casual n makes silly fouls
3.kapumbu is and another chap who is useless,all pernaulties are are prone to happen from these boys,all goals conceded are from either right or left wings wether club or international levels
The rest of the team is good and the coach is spoiled of the choice
We can win in uyo if the coach uses the mind to read the game
To be quite honest if Kondwani is off form or injured we do not have any straight replacement in the current squad. I would, therefore, pick Sinkala as the backup. This is an absolute must. As for Rainford Kalaba his brilliance cannot be thrown away. He has mainly operated alone but now we have youngsters who can match his level. football is littered with good players with huge egos but you have to find a way to work with them. Neymar, Suarez, Costa, Ronaldo and Ibrahimovic all have big egos. Maradona and Romario in their day had egos the size of small islands but what they did on a football pitch is hard to replicate. Wada just needs to find a way to work with Kalaba. As for fwayo and CCC we don’t need them they can remain at LD.
@Ngake: Kalaba is good, yes; but one hell of a selfish player too! Where its obvious for him to pass the ball, he always tries to go for glory which RARELY comes. Lets just move on.
Which is why i say he has operated alone in the past. Now we have a team. Remember Tunisia game at 2015 afcon he was feeding Evans Kangwa and Mayuka all game and they kept missing sitters. We lost 3-1 after outplaying Tunisia. We now have youngsters that can score – Fashion and Patson. You play him in the hole behind the strikers his job is just to feed them. Second half you remove him bring on Mwepu. The opposition will have no chance to rest.
How do Zambia neutralize the following Nigerian Players: Ighalo, Moses Simon, Victor Moses, Mikel Obi, to name but a few? Their movement on and off the ball is a serious threat for any team. Do you know how they break, can you match the skillfulness of Victor Moses and Simon Moses? Do Zambia have someone in the frame of Mikel Obi to stop the defense splitting passes? What of the runs of Ighalo? It is better we apply caution…. love for country should not blind us to the reality on ground. Nigeria has got a crack side that can score many goals.
Zambia won against an Algerian team that has nothing to play for and had had several changes as per coaches. It will be out of place to think that two football matches are the same.
This coach is a dictatorship may be this young player they corrupt him so he don’t care whether we win or lose since faz has no power over him,he will just doing his thing.In Nigeria we even know his squad will do anything unless he listens to the public he thinks is a great coach than, others his just wasting our money like faz start hustle
A win for chipolopolo on 7th october in Uyo will be a big win present for me for my birth day is on 7 th of this month. Go chipolopolo go , shoot down the super chickens in there back yard chicken poutry.
New team new players. Nigeria thinks this the Zambian team they beat you must wait and see come 7 October the rest is history for Nigeria on their back yard
All said, do not disturb a winning Team! If you noticed our Team now, defense is a weakest link, let us not change a winning Team, the belch has already enough power in midfield and strikers even without Kalaba and Sinkala. Time for Sinkala is almost gone for this crucial match, my fear again is that if Kalaba is in camp, his presence may cause some tension, he is better reserved for now though he is still a good player…, my main worry is on Sunzu, his poor communication with the goalkeeper almost cost us in the matches with Algeria in both games…, his experience, physique and height is main added value, I do not know what the coach has in mind for the defense! I am worried…
Nigeria has all that is required to trounce zambia in that match. Many of the super Eagles are extremely good and experienced. If they take the match seriously, Nigeria will win 3:0.
We need kalaba and SINKALA twapapata BA coach
We don’t need kalaba and sinkala Sumba why are u begging as if Zambia has no talents please grow up mine! but am bit worry to find out that Brian Mwila is not available this Ng’onga boy is useless especially when it comes to scoring by header if l was coach l would assess Jacob mulenga as his replacement. Kalaba said he is the one who brought glory to Zambia and he is above the law forgetting that he was paid a large sum of money when they won Afcon this the reason he must be forgotten. Player like Rinaldo,Neymer etc have egos at their respective clubs but not at their international matches l never heard them crying for money in their country.But kalaba wanted more despite being give a large sum of cash kalaba alitumpa bane mulkeni afumemo!!!!!
Asis us Nigeria is good team chose players who can do for our country please
Mwebantu, Kalaba, Sinkala and Fwayo were all present when Nigeria beat us AT HOME!..what value did they add then that thjey will add now??…Infact Kalaba..with all due respect was the main culprit in that game ..being all selfish seeking personal glory.