The Football Association of Zambia (FAZ)’s national player selection exercise concluded on Wednesday at the Woodlands Stadium in Lusaka, with Avram Grant fielding an All-Stars side of regular Zambian Super League players against the Rest team of players drawn from the National Division One, Provincial Leagues, and the top flight, led by Wedson Nyirenda.
The All-Stars won 3-1 thanks to Kelvin Mwanza’s brace and Zachariah Chilongoshi’s lovely freekick, with Eliya Mandaji scoring the consolation goal for Nyirenda’s The Rest team.
The player selection process, which aimed to find new players from across the country, began with teams from each province being narrowed down to the Midlands Select (Central, Eastern, Lusaka, Southern, and Western) and the Copperbelt Select (Luapula, Muchinga, North Western, Northern, and Copperbelt), who faced the Premier League (National Division One and Super League) select team.
Wednesday’s match marked the end of this year’s exercise, which FAZ said will be long-term and will be used to expand the pool of players eligible for selection to the national team.
Speaking after the match Grant said it was a good project and wants it to be done at youth level in the future.
“I think it’s a good project. I think the idea to come to every province and see all the players is a good one. We need to start to do it. Even with the young generation,” Grant told journalists. “There is a good young player who will not miss anyone….. Because our future and our present depend on the young player. And I think it’s a good project. It gives me the opportunity to see more players.
He added: “The project is more for the future. It is more to see all the players for the future. So it’s not a project for this team. I don’t think there is any player here that will come and save us or something like that. But there is a good player here who can help us in the future and maybe even the new present.“
He commended the local coaches but wants more young players to be given the platform.
“The local coaches did a very good job. I saw them; I like them. They’re very nice people and they did a good job. They selected the players. It’s not easy to select in such a short time. A lot of players did a good job. But I think again that we need to do it from under 23, under 20, under 17, and then develop their system. That will help us to see as much as we can young players and young talent. Because as I saw the national team, the young national team, there is talent, and the talent is not enough.”
ALL STARS SQUAD
GOALKEEPERS: Charles Kalumba (Red Arrows), Victor Chabu (Nchanga Rangers),
DEFENDERS: Dominic Chanda (Power Dynamos), Kabaso Chongo, Killian Kanguluma (both Kabwe Warriors), Pride Mwansa, John Soko (both Power Dynamos),
MIDFIELDERS: Collins Makungu (Mufulira Wanderers), John Kosamu, Dominic Kanda, Peter Kalota (all ZANACO FC). Kelvin Mwanza, Frederick Mulambia (Power Dynamos), Kenneth Kasanga (Nkwazi FC), Charles Zulu (Nkana FC)
STRIKERS: Andrew Phiri (FC MUZA), Chipo Sondashi (Green Buffaloes)
THE REST SQUAD
GOALKEEPERS: Gwazani Banda (Mutondo Stars), Lameck Siame (ZANACO FC), Jeban Tembo (Red Arrows),
DEFENDERS: William Kamwanga (Lumwana Radiants), Chanda Chileshe (FC MUZA), Mwape Mwenya, Prosper Chiluya (both ZANACO FC). Emmanuel Chembe (Nchanga Rangers), Mweene Mumbi, Chilimba Moonga (both Green Buffaloes), Christopher Mhango (ZANACO FC), Choolwe Hampongo (Barts FC)
MIDFIELDERS: Simon Chipanama, Abel Kanyamuna (both Atletico Lusaka), Elliot Kampukesa (Nchanga Rangers), Kapembwa Sinyangwe (New Monze Swallows). Jackson Chisekela (Neelkanth FC), Francis Mubanga (Konkola Blades FC), Titus Chansa (Mutondo Stars FC). Simon Tonga (Kabwe Warriors), Golden Mashata (Green Buffaloes), Patrick Gondwe (Nkana FC)
STRIKERS: Emmanuel Manda (FC MUZA), Eliya Mandanji (Kafue Celtic), Martin Ndhlovu, Friday Samu (Green Buffaloes)
