Tuks’ Clifford Mulenga dropped from the Zambian Under-23 team.

Why Mulenga was dropped

Zambian coach explains Mulenga axing

Posted: 18 August 2009 Time: 01:12 pm

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The surprise decision to ignore talented Tuks’ midfielder Clifford Mulenga from the Zambian national Under-23 team has been explained by coach Peter Kaumba.

Kaumba says that since the 20 year-old Mulenga, along with one time Mamelodi Sundowns trialist Rainford Kalaba, have already completed their graduation into the senior team and he sees no reason to draft them into the youth team.

Both players have been dropped from the Zambian Under-23 team to play their Ivory Coast counterparts in an Olympic qualifier.

“Clifford has played for the national team for a while now and even went to the Africa Cup with them. He should be an established player by now. Kalaba commands a first team place in the senior team.

“It was resolved at a Football Association of Zambia technical committee meeting that the two players should play for the senior team only.”

Mulenga has been a consistent performer in the youthful Tuks team that has battled for results this season whereas Kalaba has been devastating for ZESCO United where he has gone into double tally figures on the scoring charts.

Article by: Lovemore Moyo

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Anonymous
posted: 04:48 pm
This is the problem we have in Africa.One expected Clifford and Rainford Kalaba to be first priority because of the value they will add to U23. We all saw how rainford tore apart South africa in the COSAFA finals coupled with his current form as Zambia\'s hottest player. Instead of moving a step forward we have moved three backwards. I wonder whether the people who did this know the meaning of continuity and grooming of players. How do they think the boys will earn enough caps to break into European league. heads must roll if we fail to make it for the Olympics!!
Anonymous
posted: 08:21 pm
I agree with you Bonaventure, but it all adds up to corruption and mismanagement of the game back home in Zambia. We all know that we need these players to take us to China, but as always our coaches and FAZ want to experiment players and in the end we don\'t win crucial games as the one in Abidjan....and guess what people? Ivory coast U23 is bringing all their European based U-23 for the game,but as for Zambia, we are dropping our best players so we can loose the games and start blaming the match officials. Shame on the (whatever) committee is responsible for this mess.
Anonymous
posted: 10:03 am
To the contray our opponents have summoned Solomon kalou of Chelsea while we are depleting our arsenal(sic!). It does not make any sense in any battle.Need we remind then that our own soccer darling and African idol Kalusha Bwalya won the prestigious African footballer of the year in 1988 because of the Seoul Olympics. To date no ohter player South of the equator has equalled this record. It really exposes the lacklustre approach to these games by the coach and his technical staff. It\'s time to face reality by the coach and crew. Swallow your pride and recall the two boys to beef up. You should also be responsible for their counselling and apologise to the nation for this. You are holding the whole nation at ransom. How on earth will Zambia prepare for 2010 because this is the materila we need to groom? It is clear that some people are waliking on quick sand. Only time will tell when they will meet their fate.
Bonaventure Yombwe
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