Saturday, March 15, 2025

Renard Salutes Jacobs Return

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Chipolopolo coach Herve Renard says striker Jacob Mulenga has to prove himself after returning to the national team for the first time since October 2011.

Renard was speaking to journalists on Wednesday after the national team beat Faz Super Division side Nkana 2-0 in a practise match played at Levy Mwanawasa Stadium in Ndola.

Renard said after recovering from a length injury Mulenga has not been in the starting line up for his Dutch side Utrecht.

“We are happy to see him again, now he just came from injury and he has not been in the first eleven for his team since the season started. We are happy to see him but he has to prove to us that he can be like he was before,” he said.

Renard added:” The squad has to have 23 players that means everyone is important and everyone will have a job to do even if it is (playing) one minute or to sit on the bench. From outside you want to see all the players on the pitch but it’s not possible.”

In the practice match, midfielder Rainford Kalaba scored in the first half while Nkana defender Malan Gondwe scored an own goal late in the game.

Renard started with a team that resembled a starting eleven.

As expected Kennedy Mweene was in goal while the defence was marshalled by Davies Nkausu, Hichani Himonde, Stophila Sunzu and Joseph Musonda.

Nathan Sinkala played along side Kalaba and Isaac Chansa in the midfield while Christopher Katongo and his younger brother Felix played as wingers  in a system where James Chamanga was a lone striker.

In the second half, Renard changed the entire team and started with Joshua Titima in goal while Chisamba Lungu, Lawrence Phiri,Emmanuel Mbola and Chintu Kampamba were in defence.

The midfield had Francis Kasonde,William Njobvu and Noah Chivuta while Jacob Mulenga and Jonas Sakuwaha played in the wings and Emmanuel Mayuka was a lone striker.

The practice match was watched by Copperbelt Minister Mwenya Musenga.

27 COMMENTS

  1. Spoilt for choice? Renard please do us proud, you are not like other coaches whose problem is the lack of good players with whom to deliver. Yours is get the right person for this moment, in the right position and in their best combination. We need a good win and not just a win; at least Zambia 1 – Uganda 0 is what will put us one leg into AFCON 2013, so it’s total WAR!!!

  2. – HH out for Lawrence Phiri
    – Chamanga (even though is my best striker) should pave-way for Mulenga
    – Chansa should rest, we want to watch another great mid-fielder Noah Chivuta

    • Chisamba has great character and confidence in whichever position he is playing, he proved it at the AFCON finals when he played 3 and 11 respectively. HR knows it for a fact that that boy has the best confidence in the team.

  3. @ MAlinso for sure ur a lizard, so wen we beat Ghana here in Ndola which ghosts were we using?? Ghosts from family? useless poor chap!
    Go Zambia go, pliz let Chamanga start on the bench and finish on the bench as well… Mayuka, Jacob and the Katongo brothers should start!

  4. Don’t put that fool Nkana defender Malan Gondwe coz he will end up scoring us,he is blind nd confusion he doesn’t hes own gool post..

  5. Notorious BIG, maybe Malan Gondwe wanted a quick call up to the national team. He scored one of the 2 goals of the match. lol.

  6. BETTER TEAM THAN THAT OF PREVIOUS AFCON, FULL SQUAD MBOLA, JACOB ARE BACK. WE EXPECT NOTHING BUT A BUMPER HARVEST…..BAKAAMBA. TAKULI IFYA KU ZINKIMANA BOLA NI 90 MINUTES FYE. BAKAAMBA REF ALEPUTANAMOFYE NINSHI NATUKATEYA KABOLA NO KWAMBA U KULONGAMO MWAILYAINE…..ATI THE “CLANES” KU WAYAWAYA FYE. ZAMBIA KU ICHAILA..

  7. zambia is a shadow of it self. you think wining or chancing that small afcon cup was a motivating factor. the problem is on players, they use hands to run and kick the ball, how do you expect to win .
    our current crop of players are below stardard. tukaletumakofye am politician.

  8. It??s really a great and useful piece of information. I??m happy that you simply shared this useful information with us. Please stay us up to date like this. Thank you for sharing.

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