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Team of Month: April

Coach: Alfred Mulao
Mulao is one of the few coaches in the league who has not been much talked but that bothers the former Zambia international. If fact he was part of the fallen heroes team and also played alongside the two FAZ Chiefs; Emmanuel Munaile and Kalusha Bwalya in the national team set up.

Mulao guided Young Arrows to fifth position last season and this season his team are still unbeaten and on top of the KCM/FAZ Premier League summit.

But Mulao has started the month of May on a bad note. The simple tactian has yet to register a win after drawing against Nkwazi and Zesco United on Labour day and May, 4 respectively.

Goalkeeper: Joel Kambili (Chambishi)

The young shot stopper has earned himself a national team call up. Despite conceding 10 goals in the league, his quick reflex has saved the copperbelt based from irrepressible damage.

Defenders: William Chinyama, Hichani ‘HH’ Himoonde, Whiteson Simwanza, Luka Tembo

William Chinyama (Zesco United)- Last year, he was an understudy to Clive Hachilensa at international level but Chinyama is set to make one of the full back position his own.He has terrific ball control which makes him look as though he has more space than any other player in the pitch. His performance at ‘Zescolo’ has been outstanding and was recalled to the national team set up against Swaziland after missing the first leg.

The steady full-back is poised to start against Botswana on May 17.

Hichani ‘HH’ Himoonde (Lusaka Dynamos)
He is the heart of the dynamos defence. The captain marvel has frustrated a lot of strikers this season. If one thought he can intimidate the young centre back, ask Power Dynamos’ Francis Kombe.

The nonsense towering ‘HH’ is a beast of defender and strikers don’t fancy themselves facing him. ‘The Elite’ faithful have dubbed him the ‘Undertaker’ or the ‘Wardrobe.’ ‘HH’s Lusaka Dynamos’ has only conceded two goals all coming from set pieces and scored the same number of goals with the ‘Undertaker’ contributing one of the goals.

Flashback:National team players at Lusaka's international airport on returrn from Ghana 2008.

Whiteson Simwanza (Young Arrows)

The tall, elegant centre back has been in the best form of his life after joining the young airmen from the KCM sponsored side,Nampundwe last season. Simwanza had a dreadful international debut against Botswana after scoring an own goal but the afro-headed defender has been the rock of the defence that went 540 minutes without conceding a league goal.

Arrows are unbeaten this season and the only two goals they have allowed came in their last two goals (Simwanza did play in the 1-1 drew against Nkwazi)

Luka Tembo (Zanaco)

The 18 year old has been in suberb form for Zanaco despite the 2006 Champions conceding 10 goals already. Tembo, has been overlapping down the left flank and his pin point crosses has been causing havoc for the defenders.

Tembo is currently attending trials at South African PSL side, BidVest Wits together with Chimparamba teammates Banda ‘Thiery’ Henry and Yorum Mwila who are also on loan at Sunset Stadium.

Midfielders: Judge M’kandawire, Ian Bakala, Moses Kapayi, Lyainga Chiwanki

Judge M’kandawire (Young Arrows)
His pace and intelligent runs has been a nightmare for full backs. ‘The Judge’ has fed off tough competition from fellow wing wizard; Chisamba Lungu (Zanaco) to be in the team of the month.

‘The Judge’ has scored two goals for the Zambia Air Force sponsored which has seen the airmen being the surprise package of the season. The 19 year old made his interanational debut against Botswana this month.

Ian Bakala (City of Lusaka)
After a 10 year absence in the local league, Bakala is back as guest player at ‘City Ya Moto.’ The veteran has scored two goals from midfield as City are lying seventh on log and five points behind Young Arrows.

Moses Kapayi (Nkana)
The ‘Kalampa’ anchorman is one of the emerging ‘monsters’ in engine room Zambia has been craving for in the past decade.

Kapayi kept highly rated Zanaco’s Stophira Sunzu on the bench in the 1-0 away loss to the Zebras. Kapayi is a dinumitive and combative midfielder but consistency will be vital in order for him to maintain his starting berth at international level. Kapayi is partnering prodigy son Gift Kampamba in the Wusakile boys’ midfield.

Lyainga Chiwanki (Young Arrows)
Absolutely the revelation of the campaign. Some soccer pundits believe, Chiwanki does not deserve his place at national team because of last season poor form at Power Dynamos but the left footed winger has been a marvel to watch this season and arguably the best player.He has gave an eye-catching performance in the all red jersey of the airmen.

Chiwanki has been pivotal and the architect of Young Arrows’ attacking flawless but time will tell if he will maintain his stardom. The Afro-headed has chipped in a goal this season. His man of the match performance against Kabwe Warriors earned him a rare praise from Warriors coach Mohammad ‘The Pharoah’ Fathy.

“The number 11 (Chiwanki’s jersey number) was awesome today but I didn’t like his teasing(showboating),” the Pharoah said.

He was kept on bench by Kennedy Mudenda against Botswana, the man who subsequently replaced him at ‘Power 90.’And many

Strikers: Roger Kola, Lottie Phiri

Lottie Phiri (Zesco United)
On loan from Young Arrows, Phiri has earned himself a national team call up and has already notched three league goals.

Phiri has a powerful left shot and is slowly winning the hearts of the ‘Zega’ die hards.

Roger Kola ( Zanaco)
The 18 year old is just passing time at Sunset Stadium with a prominent move to Europe waiting. He is on loan from Edusport United. Despite announcing his arrival on the world stage together with best pal Emmanuel Mayuka, Kola lagged behind because last season he spent time trotting around the globe attending trials that saw him mingle with the likes Raul, Ruud Van Nisterooy, Sergio Ramos and Robinho at the Santiago Bernabeu in Spain.

Kola then went to Norway’s Hamkam but returned on time to feature for Zanaco’s league opener against Power Dynamos.

The young starlet has notched in four goals in six games for Zanaco all coming from headers. And the powerful lad capped his international debut with goal against Swaziland also coming from a header.

Kola is set to lighten the local league if he won’t be rushed abroad…hopefully it was be South Africa.

Read the complete post at http://zambianfootball.blogspot.com/2008/05/team-of-month-april.html


Posted May 09 2008, 02:07 AM by WWW.ZAMBIAFOOTBALL.COM
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