By GWEN CHIPASULA –

LUMWANA Radiants playermaker, Gozon Mutale has said he did not expect to be called up to national duty so soon and thanked Zambia Under-23 coach Fighton Simukonda for according him that rare opportunity.
Mutale, who joined the Senegal-bound squad in training in Lusaka yesterday, promised to work hard and claim a place in the 2015 Africa Under-23 Championship team.
Simukonda summoned the 21-year-old midfielder to join the team preparing for the continental championship after watching him star in the Barclays Cup quarter-final match against Zanaco.
Despite Lumwana losing 0-3, Mutale was voted man of the match.
Mutale said he was happy to have got a call to the national team and described it as an honour but kept his focus on the need to perform.
“I am very humbled. I did not expect to make it to the national team this early though it has always been my dream. This is my first time so I will not take this lightly,” he said.
The Solwezi-based player said he draws a lot of inspiration from Russia-based Chipolopolo dribbling wizard, Chisamba Lungu.
“My target is to continue being part of the national team so I will continue working hard. I really did not expect this, I am very excited,” he said.
Mutale also hinted that his immediate focus was to get to the top of Zambian football and play for ‘big’ clubs like Zesco United and Power Dynamos.
Meanwhile, Green Buffaloes striker Friday Samu again sat out of training yesterday because of a sore on his toe.