UK STUDENTS FILL IN FOR ZAMBIA

Kickoff
2009-08-13 14:38

Zambia had to field three British-based students in their international
against Ghana on Wednesday after their South African-based players
failed to get visas to travel to Britain in time.

Zambia had just nine players available for the meeting with the
Black Stars and two more arrived just before half-time of the match
at Leyton Orient’s ground in London.

They added the students Lyson Zulu, who was a former Premier League
player in Zambia, as well as Kasase Kabwe and Lengwe Kapotwe, who
was on the only player on the bench. But he came on after just eight
minutes when Njambe Mulenga was injured.

Emmanuel Mayuka, who plays in Armenia, and William Njobvu, who has
just moved to Israel, pitched up 10 minutes before half-time and were
immediately brought on, replacing Kabwe and Kapotwe, by then running
out of breath.

Not surprisingly, Zambia lost 4-1 to a powerful Ghana side, who might
had added a few more had they not been somewhat merciful in the second
half of the game.

Zambia played the last 50 minutes down to 10 men after defender Denis
Banda was sent off.

A bid to get visas for key players to travel to London was only made
on Monday and the paperwork was not concluded in time to get the
players to travel to Britain.

The five Premier Soccer League-based players, including Free State
Stars goalkeeper Kennedy Mweene and Golden Arrows captain Joseph
Musonda, attempted to get their visas at the British High Commission in
Pretoria on Monday, which was closed because it was a public holiday.

Mzansi Football and KickOff.com