Southampton manager Nigel Adkins handed Chipolopolo striker Emmanuel Mayuka his first start in his side’s 3-0 League Cup quarterfinal loss to Leeds United on Tuesday night.
Mayuka was on Tuesday named by coach Herve Renard in the 24-member Chipolopolo squad to face South Africa in Nelson Mandela Challenge on November 14 in Johannesburg.
Since joining Southampton last August from Swiss side Young Boys, Mayuka has been playing for the Saints as a regular second half substitute.
Mayuka was isolated upfront in the game against Leeds and made few attempts at goal.
He benefited from Adkins’ selection of a completely changed team following defeat by Tottenham on Sunday, but the decision backfired and his side’s poor form continued as they slipped to a third consecutive defeat.
Its no good when his team has one of the worst defences in the league.
Hey…Mayuka! Just get one goal next time please….you need to prove yourself as a striker.
I think you were beter off at Young Boy
True, Mayuka was better off at Young Boys, same with Chris Katongo, all are joining poor teams, or probably its the Zambians taking bad atmosphere in those teams.
These chaps listen too much from Kalusha Bwalya, I wish the late Alex Chola was around to give them good lecture.
My fear is if Southampton is relegated, Mayuka will go down with the team. #5. u r absolutely right, Kalusha is giving bad advice to young prospective Zambian players, very selfish. Mayuka needs to start showing that the money paid by his club to Young Boys was not a waste. Not even a ka side netting or goal post….shame
Mayuka just go back to Young Boys those chaps r wasting yo talent
I fear Mayuka will fail to score a goal in the EPL. he had the chance against Man Utd and other teams. he has lamentably failed to score. Most players score on their debut to increase their faith within themselves.
mayuka was better off yes I agree at Young Boys cause he played European Championship soccer.
EPL has turned out to be too advanced for the BOY.
Give the boy a chance…..it is too soon to judge!
You People wanted Zambian players in the English league….Now Kalusha is to blame…if he had succeeded you will say its not Kalusha who helped, if Kalu did not help, he is selfish, then what do you want Zambian? leave Kalu alone, Mayuka’s performance has gone down even in the National Team. Maybe the Soto coach is giving him too much demands to meet.
If Kalu helped him to Southampton then hats off to him, but he cant play for Mayuka too..lets give credit where due.
Granted Mayuka may have been given more playing time at Young Boys and proved himself there but that does not mean going to Southampton was a bad idea.The fact that he was given the entire 90 minutes in the last game speaks volumes about Adkins growing confidence in the young man.
We all can’t wait for his first EPL goal but to expect a striker who cuts lonely figure up front to score when the match is played in his teams half smacks of little understanding of football.Its months before the close of the season. Who knows he might score some goals and make an impact.AfCon 2013
provides yet another opportunity for the young man to prove that he can deliver goals.
some of the bloggers here are not being realistic on the game in question hence the biased stand against the young boy. the coach has confidence in the boy and that alone is motivation enough and will inspire the boy to do better. epl league is match advanced than the one he was used to. please be patient.
mayuka is not yet the finished article that is for sure. He lacks the killer instinct in front of goal. Mbesuma is far better at taking opportunities but i believe the boy will come good. Anyone who watched Eto’o at the African cups of 2000 and 2002 remembers how wasteful a striker he used to be but with time he has become the most prolific striker from africa of all time. Lets give the boy time to work on his art. He has what it takes except experience at the highest level which he is now getting.