Simba SC star Clatous Chama was an unused substitute as the Zambian National Team left no stone unturned as they humbled 2023 AFCON hosts Ivory Coast with a 3-0 victory on Saturday.
Goals from Serge Aurier, Patson Daka, and Kings Kangwa sent the crowd into bedlam at the Levy Mwanawasa stadium.
Tanzanian-based midfielder, Chama watched the entirety of his nation’s masterclass against Cote d’Ivoire from the substitutes’ bench. Grant’s only two late introductions to the encounter were Lameck Banda and Larry Bwalya.
Despite being called up for the national team, Chama has only been used sparingly for the Copper Bullets lately. After missing the first two matches of the qualifiers, the midfield sensation was included in the last three.
Astonishingly, the 32-year-old has only played nine minutes for Zambia out of a possible 270 this year. That was when he was brought in as a late substitute in the 2-0 win away at Lesotho.
Only eight days prior to that cameo, Chama scored a hat-trick. He also provided an assist in the CAF Champions League in a 7-0 obliteration of Horoya. Hence, it would raise the question of why he wasn’t given the same opportunity as before.
Having made his debut in 2015, Chama featured quite often in the Copper Bullets starting XI. The midfielder started six of the seven games he played for Zambia in 2021 and 2022.
Grant explains delayed substitutions
Many people have expressed displeasure with Grant’s continued hesitation to make substitutions even when the team is leading comfortably.
The former Chelsea and Ghana National Team coach was asked about it and he said what mattered the most was to win the game.
“The only thing we expect is to win the games,” he responded. “We have a very good bench; we have used it before and we will use it again, but today I wanted to use these players because the only thing that matters is to win in the right way.”
Grant added: “Part of the strength of the team is to look at the bench and see that you have a bench that has players [who can play] as a team, so to say I don’t trust [my bench]… I don’t know how to answer you.”
However, on Chama’s continued lack of game time, looking at the caliber of the players he is competing with for a place in the starting lineup, it would be understandable. The rise of Kings Kangwa and Emmanuel Banda has been a trump card for the Chipolopolo recently.
READ MORE: Zambia player ratings vs Ivory Coast
The chemistry and creativity of the European-based midfield duo are only getting better. Kangwa scored 12 times for Red Star Belgrade last season, propelling them to a league and cup double.
Emmanuel Banda, on the other hand, scored five goals to help his side, SuperSport HNL, secure UEFA Europa Conference League qualification.
The pair delivered top performances in Grant’s tactical masterclass against Ivory Coast on Saturday. Hence, it’s a huge ask for any player, even of the quality of Chama, to make the starting XI ahead of them.
