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The last time we projected these power rankings, of Zambian young player of the year, was in week 19, and with now less than ten games before the season ends, so much has changed. Zedsoccer takes you through the last lap of the top three contenders for the price that gives birth to Zambia’s finest talents.
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By week 19, we had Abraham Siankobo on number 1, Enoch Sakala on number 2, Jimmy Mukeya on number 3 ,Simon Mulenga on number 4 and Prince Mumba Closing the list but with now less than 10 games left, the face of the race to player of the year is wearing a totally different face.
- GOLDEN MAFWENTA
The Buildcon center-back cum holding midfielder has been a consistent folk lifter in the Buildcon midfield at the same time as he has been fantastic when deployed in his traditional center-back position. He missed out on the list the first time we projected into the future but he sneaks in with a couple of solid displays for Buildcon since he came back from his injury.
- ABRAHAM SIANKOBO
Siankobo was in the first position on this list by week 19 but a drop in form ejects him to 4th. The 21-year-old ZANACO maestro is a rare combination of Xavi and Edgar Davids. Quick, steady, and clever on and off the ball, Siankobo is so far the league’s most mesmerizing revelation and has every quality to scoop it if he rediscovers the form that earned him his maiden National team call up. Unfortunately, he has lost so much drive and plowing power since.
- PRINCE MUMBA (Warriors)
The diminutive Kabwe Warrior’s number 10’s low center of gravity and fantastic control of the ball allows him to turn his waist in the speediest of motions to deceive opponents attempting to strip the ball from him. His low center of gravity not only makes him agile but gives him combativeness that makes it difficult to floor without committing a foul.
He has been a cathode in the Warriors attacking third with his tireless runs and appetite for the ball giving Mwachiaba so much space to maneuver in and outside the box. Prince has been fantastic in that Warrior’s side chasing for a top-four finish and this being his last year in the youth ranks, he can snatch it
- ENOCK SAKALA (Zesco United)
The towering Zesco center forward was top on the list but he moves a step back into the second position. Take nothing much away from him, he is a beast in front of goal.
Many have likened him to Borussia Dortmunds Earling Braut Haaland owing to his powerful drives and towering stature. Whether such comparisons are realistic or overzealous, This boy is a top-notch talent and he keeps proving his critiques wrong as the matches come. He is so strong and brave on the ball.
His brain posture and aggrandizement are made out of nothing but football and once he steps in the box, he is a fox. Zesco united dropped some vital three points against Nkana in their previous encounter and Sakala will be kept in their pursuit for a comeback against Power Dynamoes this afternoon.
- JIMMY zozo zobrigo MUKEYA (NAPSA)
Most improved and most consistent, the little Napsa ball wiz-kid shoots from 4th to top of the list and most likely to be crowned Young Footballer of the year 2021. He is a concoction of magic on the ball.
Mukeya might not be in the ranks of the fastest players in the league but his intellectual brilliance, awareness, and sense of torture in his legs have been his flaps to the top. What makes Jimmy even the more unique is his blend of intelligence and perceptiveness as both a creator and scorer of goals.
The little NAPSA star’s decision-making between passing and shooting has been sumptuous and he keeps doing the same things which leave us on the edges of our seats twitching for more over and over.
