1 May 2004
A DOUBLE header of sorts is in the offing today between Zambia and Zimbabwe as the two neighbouring soccer rivals try to assert their dominance over each other.
While the Zambian and Zimbabwean under-20 squads are jostling for the inaugural SADC Games soccer title in Mozambique, the two countries' senior teams will be squaring off in Lusaka in an international friendly.
Over the years, encounters between these two countries, be they competitive or friendly, whether at senior or junior level, have been keenly contested affairs.
Thus, although there is some solemnity about today's encounter at Independence stadium which is being held to commemorate the 11th anniversary of the April 1993 Gabon air disaster that wiped out the entire Zambian squad, it should be just as keenly contested as previous meetings.
This afternoon's encounter kicks off the preparatory programme for the combined World Cup and Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers which get underway next month.
With that in mind, Zambian coach Ben Bamfuchile and his assistant Peter Kaumba are certain to run the rule strictly over their charges as they try to come up with a winning combination for the qualifiers.
The match should provide the coaching bench a good opportunity to identify whatever lapses might be there in the team so that they can be ironed out before the real test comes next month in the qualifiers.
While Sudan based striker and 2002 FAZ Premier League top scorer Zachariah Simukonda has been ruled out of today's game, Chaswe Nsofwa whose career appears to have hit the skids at Krilya Sovetov in the Russian Vuishchaya Liga, has a chance to redeem himself.
Should he get the run-out, Nsofwa who has struck his fair share of crucial goals for Zambia, looks set to partner his former ZANACO strikemate Cosmas Banda who has also been called up.
In the under-23 quartet of striker Songwe Chalwe and attacking midfielders Chris Katongo, Isaac Chansa and Noel Mwandila, Zambia have extra strike options on which to count.
In the middle of the park, Ian Bakala, a tried and tested campaigner, looks set to return to action against Zimbabwean players with whom he should now be on very familiar terms due to his current stint at CAPS United.
Bakala who on his day, can be quite influential on the game with some incisive playmaking, could rejoin his former Kabwe Warriors teammate and now with Green Buffaloes Felix Simukonda in a midfield deployment just ahead of the central defenders.
At the back, South Africa based Lloyd Mumba should join forces with the Power Dynamos Zambia under-23 duo of Stephen Kunda and Billy Mwanza to shield goalkeeper Kalililo Kakonje from the Zimbabwean attack.
At the other end of the field, Zimbabwe who have a liberal sprinkling of first time caps in their squad, will be looking up to the enthusiasm and exuberance of youth to do the job against Zambia.
This could see the lively Shabani Mine striker Albert Mano and CAPS United's Brian Badza leading the Young Warriors' charge with the battle tested Leo Kurauzione from Dynamos operating in the hole behind the front two.
The Amazulu duo of Ronald Sibanda and Esrom Nyandoro and the tricky Clement Matawu from Motor Action, can also be match winners on their day.
The hard working Bulawayo Highlanders' Honour Gombani and Francis Chandida from Dynamos should handle the fetch and carry tasks in the Zimbabwean midfield quite ably.
To try and keep the hosts at bay, Zimbabwe look set to line up CAPS United's David Sengu and Bulawayo Highlanders' Bekithemba Ndhlovu in a central defence partnership while Zvyenika Makonese and Cephas Chimedza police the flanks.
In the absence of first choice goalkeeper Energy Chirambadoro, Bulawayo Highlanders netminder Tapuwa Kapini looks set to start ahead of Ephraim Mazarura.
Thus, although the game is not only a friendly but also has an element of solemnity about it, it is just as likely to be as keenly contested as previous meetings between the two.
On the other hand, while a positive result should certainly be morale boosting ahead of the qualifiers, what should be uppermost from today's match is not so much the result but the importance of fine-tuning the team.
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