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One Player to Decide Zambia’s Fate. Who is that one Player to Decide Zambia’s Fate as they march against Lesotho in the 2023 AFCONQualifiers
Backdrop: Notable in the Bayern Munich team bossing its way to Champions League glory this season is the effect of Thiago Alcantara, whom Kovac has naturalized into a beast. It’s the stable defensive midfield that has been the brewery of everything impressive Bayern has been doing. It defines just how important a functioning defensive midfield is in modern football.
At Man City, the limelight is on Haaland and his free-scoring prowess, but little attention is given to the concrete presence of Rodri in front of John Stones and how much he glides the team through difficult turbulence. It’s the same role Enzo Fernandez has been playing in a Chelsea that is slowly turning its misery around.
Manchester United, on the other hand, spent over 70 million pounds on Casemiro, the Brazilian Ten Hag describes as ‘the cement in between the stones’, to ignite the cold embers of the Red Devils’ season into flames.
In a role Johan Cryff described as the Pivote, Spanish league leaders Barcelona refused to let go of Sergio Busquets after attempts to find someone near his prowess failed.
Foretets: With a full house now at Grant’s disposal, Zambia boasts of a satellite of stars in its creative third in Klings Kangwa, Cletus Chama, Larry, Lubambo, and Emmanuel Banda. Boys whose fertility of form cannot be questioned, but this is not where Zambia will win or lose the match.
As Zambia prepares to take on Lesotho, on the contrary, it’s the defensive midfield role that has been rusty, and the better Grant solves this puzzle, the easier the load will be against Lesotho.
The Sakala’s Scale: In the last 20 years, Zambia has had only three born-defensive midfielders: Andrew Sinkala, Nathan Sinkala, and now Benson Sakala.
The former Power Dynamos defensive midfielder, now in the books of F.K Viagem Pribram of the Czech Republic, possesses some uncommon strength packed in his metallic frame. He is the only player in camp comfortable doing the uncomfortable. His technique and grip will be a giant concrete pad in front of a central defense pairing of Mabika and Musonda that is learning to play with each other.
If deployed correctly, Benson Sakala will be key in Chipolopolo’s advance, as his ability to dispossess the ball with one or two touches will make the team’s advance quicker.
