Power Dynamos midfielder Joshua Mutale says it is a massive honour to make the Chipolopolo A team after his recent CHAN and COSAFA Cup team exploits.
Mutale is part of Chipolopolo’s 23-member team for Zambia’s September friendly doubleheader away against Mali.
He has six caps so far since earning his first in March during Chipolopolo’s 3-1 friendly loss away to Iraq in Baghdad.
Mutale’s other caps have also been with the domestic-based team in the 2023 CHAN qualifiers and the 2022 COSAFA Cup.
This week, Mutale gets an opportunity to rub shoulders with Chipolopolo’s big guns like Patson Daka of Leicester City and Brighton midfielder Enock Mwepu.
The 20-year-old midfielder is one of only seven home-based players in the Zambia team to face Mali in two friendlies away in Bamako on September 23 and 26.
MUTALE ON DAKA AND MWEPU
“It is not easy, especially because people usual watch players like Patson Daka, Enock Mwepu and the like on TV, so it is a very good motivation for me,” Mutale said.
“It shows that my hard work has paid off. I am very happy; it is a dream come true making it into the senior national team and among the few local players.”
Mutale and his few privileged colleagues may have not qualified for 2023 CHAN but joined Chipolopolo A after lifting the 2022 COSAFA Cup crown last July in Durban.
Meanwhile, the home-based players, including call-ups from Tanzania, South Africa and DR Congo, left Lusaka on Monday afternoon for Bamako via Addis Ababa.
But absent are Lubambo Musonda of Horsens in Denmark, Lameck Banda from Serie A side Lecce, and Amazulu’s Rally Bwalya, all three ruled out due to injuries.
ZAMBIA SQUAD
GOALKEEPERS: Charles Kalumba (Red Arrows), Lawrence Mulenga (Power Dynamos), Toaster Nsabata (Sekhukhune United, RSA)
DEFENDERS: Benedict Chepeshi, Allan Kapila (both Red Arrows), Shemmy Mayembe (Zesco United), Miguel Chaiwa (BSC Young Boys, Switzerland), Frankie Musonda (Ayr United, Scotland), Tandi Mwape (TP Mazembe, DR Congo), Dominic Chanda (Kabwe Warriors), Luka Chamanga (Power Dynamos)
MIDFIELDERS: Clatous Chama (Simba SC, Tanzania), Edward Chilufya (Midtjylland, Denmark), Kelvin Kampamba (Zesco United), Joshua Mutale (Power Dynamos), Roderick Kabwe (Sekhukhune United, RSA), Emmanuel Banda (Djurgardens, Sweden), Enock Mwepu (Brighton, England), Kings Kangwa (Red Star Belgrade-Serbia)
STRIKERS: Fashion Sakala (Glasgow Rangers, Scotland), Patson Daka (Leicester City, England), Ricky Banda (Red Arrows), Evans Kangwa (Arsenal Tula, Russia)
