MOISE KATUMBI FUMES, TO WHIP UNDER-PERFORMING ZAMBIAN PLAYERS

Katumbi - Some Zambian footballers think they gat it all

 By Mike Mubanga

You would indeed wonder what on earth is happening to the current 'cream de la cream' of Zambian players plying their trade in the Democratic Republic of Congo, TP Mazembe to be specific.

All of the sudden, most of them look tired, lack match fitness and are never on top of the game.

2012 was a best year for some TP Mazembe players. They had won the Africa Cup of Nations with Zambia's Chipolopolo Boys, won the Congolese League including personal accolades.

The first question Katumbi raises NOW is 'do these players think that they have arrived in dreamland, have these guys grown big headed because of 2012 success?'

Katumbi asks this because he has noted that the players no longer have that fighting spirit, whether in training or in the actual game.

These questions need answers, and quick answers. Mind you, it is at Mazembe where we have defender Stoppila Sunzu, midfielder Rainford Kalaba, Hichani Himoonde, Francis Kasonde, Given Singuluma and Nathan Sinkala to name a few.

On the questions Katumbi raises,  he singles out striker Singuluma, Sinkala, Sakuwaha and Kasonde as the most committed players and boldly names Sunzu and Kalaba as the most troublesome, indiscipline and unsettled players.

My question is why Sunzu, and why Kalaba?

While you are still searching for answers, or to those who already know, the two players' problems are there for all to see.

Sunzu is no longer the man??

Sunzu has been yearning to move to an English Premiership side but has failed. First it was Reading, then later it was Sunderland. He might have passed trials but unfortunately for him, the respective managers who loved his game were sacked! You wouldn’t want me to mention how that Arsenal rumor story went would you?

He's been in and out of England, at one point he even missed important days for Zambia during the run-up to the 2013 Africa Cup, but all in vain.

Katumbi - Runaway Midfielder Kalaba got no discipline

This has unsettled the player (scorer of the most important penalty kick at AFCON 2012), according to the Mazembe chief, no longer feels the need of playing for Mazembe, worse off- he is not even registered for CAF games.

Kalaba. It hasn't been the same story as that of Sunzu, but it can be a case of loss in form attributed to injuries in both club and country duty.

Master Mupa's perfomance was one of the worst at the Africa Cup, and Zambia's 1-1 draw against Lesotho in Maseru left Renard fuming.

"The problems of TP Mazembe affect a lot the national team", the Frenchman said after the game.

What problems? Players' personal problems are now the clubs?

Kalaba has been given a chance to be treated by the club or outside Africa in a bid to quickly bring him back to full fitness, how many times has he sneaked out of Congo defying those orders?

Surely, you can't expect club owner Moise Katumbi to be happy with the poor performances being exhibited players, worse when Lumumbashi town has been filled with loads of stories that most Zambian players are now focused in the good life and slightly forget that there are at work.

For TP Mazembe to be where it is now, it took some huge financial and mental injections to yield the fruits that the club has yield, and Katumbi wants results to show in return.

In borrowing the writings from Congo, 'When he took over the management of the club, the players only had one set of kit, which they often had to put on still damp because it did not have time to dry… Moïse KATUMBI changed everything, everywhere: infrastructures (Kenya stadium completely renovated with synthetic turf, a new stadium under construction), legal standing (changed to a private limited liability company) and a much bigger budget, with the players’ salaries and bonuses brought up to European level.'

Katumbi is not selfish, he even goes further to advice the Chipolopolo Boys coach Herve Renard and the Zambian Football Association to evaluate and scrutinize the players.

Damn You! Renard was not happy with treatment of Mazembe players

The Katanga Governor adds that if this is not done, Zambia's World Cup dream might be shattered!

But I wouldn't be shocked if he shuts the door on the players with big ego. Already, I am hearing that Jonas Sakuwaha, Given Singuluma, Nathan Sinkala, Hichani Himoonde, Rainford Kalaba and Francis Kasonde contracts might not be renewed.

RODERICK KABWE OUT FOR THREE WEEKS

CROCKED: Roderick Kabwe (middle) being helped
by Salulani Phiri

(left) and Julius Situmbeko (right) - Picture by Jean Mandela

RODERICK KABWE OUT FOR THREE WEEKS

 By Mike Mubanga

I seriously expected influential Zanaco Football Club midfielder Roderick Kabwe to shine in Saturday’s international friendly against Namibia.

Here is a lad to who has come up to light the 2013 FAZ Premier League by storm, meeting one of my expectations when I first saw him dawn in Zanaco colours.

Kabwe suffered a torn tissue on the ankle and a muscle strain on the knee after he clashed with ZANACO football Club teammate Salulani Phiri during this Tuesday’s training session.

After an examination at Lusaka’s Beit Cure Hospital on Wednesday morning, it was discovered that the ankle injury was more serious than the knee injury.



It was definitely a bad sight, but the good news is that he will only be out for three weeks.

He’s been a marvel to watch in the premier league, and has scored one of the best goals this season, a free kick in the 4-1 win against Forest Rangers this season.

Hopefully, he will come back a stronger lad, and bang in more goals this season.

ORLANDO PIRATES TO PLAY AL AHLY, ZAMALEK AND AC LEOPARDS IN CL DRAW

ORLANDO PIRATES TO PLAY AL AHLY, ZAMALEK AND AC LEOPARDS IN CL DRAW

By Mike Mubanga

I have got to give respect to South African soccer giants Orlando Pirates. 

Not because they beat Congolese Champions TP Mazembe, one of the most respectable sides in Africa, but because of the way they handled themselves en-route to earning themselves a place in the Group stages of the African Champions League.

The Champions League games came at a time when Pirates were struggling for form in the Premier Soccer league, but the y still managed to beat Zambian Champions Zanaco football Club by a 3-1 aggregate score-line.

Having covered the encounter with the Zambian Champions, I observed that Pirates were rich in midfield and compact with the likes of captain Lucky Lekgwathi.

With the Buccaneers, their advantage was in the first leg, with their hit-man Collins Mbesuma bagging a brace in a 3-1 win. Not even the impressive Raibnford Kalaba could impress for Mazambians, as they are locally known in Lusaka.

The second leg was definitely going to be tough, but with the 3-1 score, the game was going Pirate’s way, despite Mazembe winning 1-0 in a high tempered match that saw Lekgwathi being sent off and Pirates goalkeeper Senzo Meyiwa the hero of the day, saving two penalties.

The draws for the CAF Champions League are out, and Pirates are in Group A alongside AC Leopards (DR Congo), Zamalek (Egypt) and Al Ahly (Egypt).

Group B comprises of Recreativo Libolo (Angola), Esperance (Tunisia), Sewe Sport (Ivory Coast) and Coton Sport (Cameroon).

By reaching the group stages, all eight clubs are guaranteed $400 000, but in my opinion, 90 per cent of the clubs would rather fight for a bigger piece of cake that the hundreds of dollars.

For me, the Buccaneers should rate themselves as future semi-finalists, a feat which will see them nearing the 1995 season, when they went on to become Africa champions.

It will not be easy though, they are grouped against current Al Ahly, who have mature and top class footballers, and another Egyptian side Zamalek. 

There is a very high possibility that the two matches could be played behind closed doors due to the violence that still troubles Egyptian football.

AC Leopards should be a silent giant, but Pirates should be able to sneak through after the two legged encounter.

Pirates have lacked inconsistency in the league, a thing which has led to die hard Bucs’ fans rising against their coach Roger De Sa. 

This is the lack of initiative, inconsistency and lacking ambition that should not be repeated, if they are to do well in the Champions league; it’s a different league, it’s not PSL.

Believe me, there is more that Collins Mbesuma can offer. Takesure Chinyama, who has been a shadow of himself for most of this season can also produce a three star performance.

De Sa needs to get his tactics right, playing two Egyptian clubs is no joke, especially when you get to drop points at home soil.

He might have lost the league, but he has an opportunity to prove that his fans were wrong in calling for his sacking.

ZAMBIA SLUMP ON FIFA RANKINGS

By  Mike Mubanga

Zambia this month dropped one place in the latest FIFA World rankings, moving to 47th, from last month's position 46.

However, the Chipolopolo Boys are still the top most ranked team in Southern African region, and have maintained seventh position in Africa.

There was no FIFA calendar date in April and teams were also idle since World Cup qualifiers will resume next month.

Zambia's opponents in July's COSAFA CUP quarter-finals Mozambique are on one hundred and sixth in the world.

The African continent is topped by Ivory Coast, followed by Ghana, Mali, Nigeria, Algeria, Tunisia, Zambia, Burkina Faso, South Africa, and  Equatorial Guinea.

Meanwhile, Spain have maintained first position on the rankings followed by Germany, Argentina, Croatia and Portugal.

Colombia are sixth, England seventh, Italy eighth, Netherlands ninth, while Ecuador  complete the top 10 slot.

SUNZU OUT FOR FOUR WEEKS

By Mike Mubanga

Chipolopolo Boys defence kingpin Stoppila Sunzu has been ruled out of action for four weeks after successfully undergoing a knee operation.

This means that Sunzu will miss Zambia's two crucial 2014 World Cup qualifier matches against Lesotho and Sudan on June 8th and 15th respectively.

Football Association of Zambia Communications Officer Erick Mwanza said in a statement that following the operation, the defender will be off all training and needs complete rest to fully recover.
Mwanza added that Coach Herve Renard has been advised of the success of the operation as well as the highly likelihood that Sunzu may not be available for Zambia's next two fixtures.