Several Zambian football stars were in action for their clubs over the weekend, laying the groundwork for the 2024-25 season, while some drew the curtains on their campaigns.
BolaNews looks at how some Chipolopolo players, plying their trades abroad, faired over the weekend.
Ricky Chanda Wins I Lyga Championship in Lithuania, Songa Chipyoka and Mphande Clash in Israel.
Zambian U20 defender Ricky Chanda secured gold on Friday as FK Riteriai won the I Lyga Championship to earn automatic promotion to the Lithuanian topflight. In their bid to return to the A Lyga, Riteriai signed Chanda in June, and he has since contributed two goals and eight clean sheets in 14 league games so far.
Meanwhile, Songa Chipyoka and Gift Mphande locked horns in the Israeli Liga Leumit as Hapoeal Petah Tikva defeated Hapoel Rishon Lezion 2-0. In the top flight, Kings Kangwa, who was subbed off in the 94th minute, watched helplessly as Hapoel Be’er Sheva conceded a last-minute equalizer against Maccabi Bney Reine.
Lameck Banda Returns to Lecce’s Starting Against Napoli.
Lameck Banda was the most fouled player on the pitch as US Lecce lost 1-0 to Napoli in the Serie A on Saturday. He got his first start for Lecce since suffering an injury that kept him out of Zambia’s 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AfCON) qualifiers against Chad.
Kingston Mutandwa was on the bench for Cagliari, who were on the wrong end of a 2-0 scoreline against Udinese.
Mwepu Earns First Start For Cadiz.
Cadiz CF started Francisco Mwepu in a La Liga Hypermotion match for the first time this season, ending their five-match winless streak as they beat Real Oviedo 2-0.
Meanwhile, Peter Chikola started his fourth consecutive Segunda Federacion match for Cadiz CF Mirandilla, who fell 1-0 to CDA Aguillas on Saturday.
Sunzu’s Yatai Survive Relegation, Frankie and Ayr United Continue Promotion Push.
Chipolopolo centre-backs Frankie Musonda and Stopilla Sunzu both kept cleansheets in Scotland and China, respectively. Changchun Yatai’s goalless draw saw them mathematically survive relegation, while Ayr United’s 1-0 win keeps them in contention for promotion to the Scottish Premiership.
Fashion Sakala played 90 minutes for Al Fayha against ex-manager Steven Gerrard’s Al Ettifaq in a 1-1 draw. Czech-based midfielder Benson Sakala featured in the last 30 minutes for Mlada Boleslav on Sunday, while Golden Mafwenta, who made the switch from the Czech Republic to Ukraine, started for Metalist 1925.
Joseph Sabobo Absent from FC Zurich Squad.
Miguel Chaiwa, Lubambo Musonda, and Edward Chilufya were unavailable at the weekend due to injury, while Joseph Sabobo and Kennedy Musonda did not make the matchday squads of FC Zurich and Yanga SC, respectively.
Clatous Chama came off the bench for Yanga SC in their 1-0 victory over Coastal Union in Tanzania, as Obino Chisala started for Costa do Sol in a goalless stalemate in Mozambique.
