WADA SUMMONS  SAKALA, DAKA

Tue, 22 Aug 2017 13:56:40 +0000

…The U-20 starlets to join the Chipolopolo squad for the Algeria encounter next month

By Grace Chaile  Lesoetsa

 UNDER-20 starlets Fashion Sakala and Patson Daka are among the foreign based players that have been summoned to the Chipolopolo squad that will face Algeria in a 2018 World Cup qualifier encounter next month.

Other U-20 players called are midfielders Belgium-based Emmanuel Banda and Enock Mwepu from Austria side Liefering.

According to impeccable sources, the four have been given a call-up by national team coach Wedson Nyirenda ahead of the crucial game on September 2 at National Heroes Stadium in Lusaka.

After enduring criticism and booing during his days with the senior team under coaches Honour Janza and George Lwandamina, Daka returns to the team after his brilliant performance at the under-20 World Cup.

The 20-year-old who last featured for the senior team in 2016 is enjoying good form in his Liefering fc side in Austria.

 In April, UEFA named him among the five players to watch out for in the European league after he helped Liefering win the title with a 2-1 victory over Portuguese side Benfica in the final.

This is the first time Mwepu, Banda and Sakala have earned a national team call up. Mwepu recently scored a brace to help Liefering to a 3-2 win over Linz.

Other foreign-based notable players expected to be in the squad include goal keeper Kennedy Mweene, defender Stopilla Sunzu and striker Given Singuluma and Brian Mwila.

Among the locals are Justin Shonga, Fackson Kampumbu, Simon Silwimba and Kondwani Mtonga . Meanwhile, Chipolopolo Fans Association patron Yotam Mwanza said Zambia’s performance in the CHAN qualifier game against South Africa has ignited confidence in the fans.

Mwanza was confident Nyirenda will assemble a team that will be strong enough to handle the Arabs. “I am confident the fans will troop to the National Heroes stadium in numbers. The CHAN qualification is testimony that we can go far though we face one of the best team in Africa,” he said.