Zambian players playing their trade abroad had a mixed weekend. Again no Zambian player was on target for his club. And no one was on the winning side.

France
Reports coming from France indicate that Jacob Mulenga is injured. He missed Racing Strasbourg's away 1-0 loss to seventh placed Lorient while Rennes new boy Felix Katongo didn't make the bench. Rennes lost 3-1 to Lille with former Barcelona star Patrick Kluivert drabbing a brace. Strabourg and Rennes have amassed 32 and 30 points respectively. League leaders Lyon have 49 points. Rennes are placed fourth from the bottom team.

Germany
Moses Sichone's Offenbach Kickers recorded a 1-1 draw with his former club Alemannia Aachen in the Germany Bundesliga 2. Sichone played the full 90 minutes and he picked up his second yellow cards in two games in front of the 10122 home fans at the Bieberer Berg Stadium.

Andrew Sinkala's Parderbon 07 lost 3-1 to VfL Osnabrück. Parderbon are still in the drop Zone while Offenbach are placed 14th in an 18 team log. Sinkala has been ruled out of the remainder of the season.



Finiland

In Finiland the top division,Veikkausliiga will start on 27th April 2008. But the countries' top teams are involved in the Liiga cup. Zambia's contigent featured for their club,RoPS Rovaniemi lost 4-1 to FC Honka. Former Kitwe United striker Nchimunya Mweetwa, 24(pictured) started the match alongside 1994 hero Zeddy Saileti in attack. Stephen Kunda was in defence and youngster Mwaba Chanda started in midfield.

The other Zambian Chibwe Chileshe was on the bench. Last season Mweetwa propelled ROPS back to the Finnish to flight after scoring an incredibel 17 goals in 25 games.

Turkey

Collins Mbesuma is still missing from the Bursaspor lineup. Bursaspor drew 2-2 with Istanbul Buyuksehir BSK on saturday. Bursaspor is placed 13th on th18 team Turkish Supercell league.

Danemark

Chipolopolo boys captain Chris Katongo's Dannish side Brondby are on midseason pre-season. The second half of the Dannish Superligaen kickoff on 15th march 2008.

Sweden

Despite being on pre season Isaac Chansa's Helsingborg are involved in UEFA Cup. The Henrik Larson led side lost 2-0 to Dutch side PSV last week. The Swedish Allsvenskan league kick off on 30th March 2008.

South Africa

In the Premier Soccer League, Chipolopolo stars came head to head when Golden Arrows met Free State Stars. Former Golden Arrows defender Chintu Kampamba was rock solid in the stars defence and Joseph Musonda played thefull 90 minutes for Arrows.

Zambia first choice goalkeeper Kennedy conceded two goals and his coach Malawian born Kinah Phiri blamed him for one the goals. "A few mistakes at the back cost us with our goalkeeper taking for granted that the ball is going out," Phiri said after the match.

Defender Billy Mwanza is still out with an anle injury.The match finished 2-2.

Former under-23 skipper Noah Chivuta missed BidVest's 2-0 loss to Orlando Pirates through suspension. Chivuta has so far scored six goals from midfield. He is four goals shot of James Chamanga's 10 goals.

Former Chambishi Striker Davies Mwape failed to inspire Jomo Cosmos to a win against Kaizer Chiefs. Mwape was substituted in the 57th minute as the Jomo Sono could manage a goalles stalemate. Jomo Cosmos rocked at the bottom of the PSL.

Goalkeeper Kalililo Kakonje is yet to make his debut for Amazulu. The former Lusaka Dynamos shot stopper was signed from Division one side Nathi Lions. Amazulu lost 3-2 to Santos.

Dennis Lota new club Mpumulanga aces lost 4-2 to Dynamos in the National First Division (NFD) Inland Stream match on Sunday afternoon.

The win sees Dynamos retain second place in the Inland Stream standings, whilst Aces are in fourth.
In the other game played on Sunday, former Green Buffaloes striker Peter Mutale's Winners Park recorded a 2-0 win over Garankuwa United - away, at the Caledonian Stadium - to move into third place on the Inland Stream log.

Given Singuluma's Bay United are the new leaders of the First Division’s Coastal Stream after picking up maximum points with a deserved 1-0 home win against Hanover Park.

While 2007 CAF African Young Footballer of the Year, Clifford Mulenga failed to inspire University of Pretoria as they were condemed to a 2-1 loss by Witbank Spurs. Defender Davies Nkausu also featured for 'Amatuks'. The Gary Bailey coached side are placed bottom of the Inland Stream log.

FAZ AGM and Elections -Hanif Adams vs Kalusha Bwalya

On 29th March 2007, there will be a Football Association of Zambia, FAZ, Annual General Meeting, AGM and elections to elect new FAZ executive members. There has been scrutine in the media on the potential candidates.

At the moment it looks like its Kalusha vs Hanif Adams for thePresidency while Simataa will be contesting for Vice President. Looking at the current debates, some are arguing that Great Kalu should be the President because of his contacts while others are saying Hanif is better because he has been running Lusaka Dynamos-business oriented-for the past 29 years.

The Zambian public has blamed some of FAZ's lapses to Mulonga/Kalu relationship but what will have happen if both Kalu and Simataa win-they are not in good terms. The other point the Hanif supporters are saying that Kalu is rarely inthe country.

Well i have been going to Football House in past eight months and i have come to know that most of the FAZ executive members are on part time basis and FAZ has commitees, like the technical and competition. So Kalu can head FAZ without a problem but those who are saying he is better placed than Hanif because he is known at CAF, FIFA and internationally at large, i believe they are missing the point.Whether its Hanif , Kalu or Mulonga FIFA will continue funding andguiding FAZ.

Zambiafootball.com is inviting all concerned zambian football fans and pundits to express their views on this topic. You can email your views to Zambianfootball@gmail.com .

This article below was posted by one of former FAZ official.

The subject you have raised regarding FAZ Presidential candidates is a very difficult one. I have had dealings and or relationships with all the three aspirants and in one sentence;

"I do not think any of the three candidates is suitable for what they are vying for".

Of the three, I have known Kalusha for a longer time than I have known the other two. I have known him since he was a kid in Mufulira where I was born and brought up. I had very good relationships with Kalusha's late Father and his late brother Benjamin.

Kalu's contacts/connections as the reason for suitability for FAZ Presidency does not make sense....What did the contacts/relations with FIFA, CAF etc do to help Kalu in his FAZ VP role? Why has he had poor relationships with both Mulonga and Simataa?

Hanif may have been running Lusaka Dynamos but, the FAZ Presidency is higher and more difficult role. Having had dealings with him when I was FIFA Referee, FAZ Fixtures Secretary and finally as FAZ General Secretary I believe he lacks PR qualities.

Simataa....I worked with him as well when I was FAZ Fixtures Secretary and finally as FAZ General Secretary I believe he like Hanif lacks PR qualities. Simataa argues and differs with a lot of people over trivial issues.

Kalusha and Simataa in my humble opinion can never ever work together. If by mistake they are both elected they will have problems from day 1.

Please Post Your Views to zambianfootball@gmail.com



Chelsea's Essien caught in Arsenal shirt
Chelsea star Michael Essien scores an embarrassing own goal - by being pictured in an Arsenal shirt, reports The Sun.
The midfielder, 25, who earns £90,000 a week, was snapped in the top of his London rivals on a trip to his native Ghana.

Essien explained his Gunners gaffe saying: "The shirt is one I swapped with Emmanuel Adebayor after a game last season.

"I gave it to my pal Eric. A girl asked for a photo. I didn't want to do it bare-chested - so Eric lent me the shirt."