By SHAMAOMA MUSONDA –
ZAMBIA Under-17 coach Chris Kaunda says he has found a perfect midfielder in Nsonsa Sunzu to help the squad in its quest to sparkle at next month’s Africa Junior Championship in Niger.
Speaking after watching his lads play out a 1-1 draw against South Africa, Kaunda said Sunzu, the younger sibling of Stoppila, had fitted in well in the ‘boots’ of injured Changwe Kalale.
“You saw what he did in that holding midfield role. That was his first international game and what he did not many players can do that. He held the position very well and even more than we expected, that is a discovery,” he said.
Kaunda said the performance put in by Sunzu, who was one of the seven players featured after been included last week, eased off the worries of the void left by Kalale.
He said Sunzu’s ball distribution, interceptions, alertness and strength tussles were among his strong attributes and would be his foundation.
“We were worried, as we have to fill the position of number six left by Changwe Kalale who is still in hospital but we have found Sunzu,” he said.
Ironically, Sunzu also wore jersey 14, the same number that Kalale wears.
Kalale remains in hospital after been involved in a road accident on his to camp with the senior national team and is out of the 2015 Niger Africa Junior championship.
Kaunda said what would be needed now was to give the young Sunzu more game time especially that he was coming from an academy and had not been exposed to a lot of competitive football, let alone international.
On the draw and lack of scoring opportunities, Kaunda said that mattered less to him as he got what he wanted to see in the team.
“We included eight new players, those who went for MRI scanning and I think I am happy with what I saw and we are on the right path for a good outing to the Africa under-17 championship,” he said.