Numba: Why I subbed Mubanga in Nkana game

by Staff Reporter

Monday Oct 18, 2021. 17:11

Zesco United coach Mumamba Numba has disclosed why he substituted Chipolopolo midfielder Kelvin Mubanga mid-way through the first half of Saturday’s 1-0 Copperbelt derby away loss to Nkana.

Mubanga was taken off in the 33rd minute by Numba following a quiet performance by the influential midfielders’ very own high standards at Nkana Stadium in Kitwe and he was replaced by winger Edward Lungu.

The midfielder was withdrawn just ten minutes after Nkana had taken the lead through a Jacob Ngulube header.

“Kelvin wasn’t himself, he was too casual and he made so many breakdowns and he wasn’t helping the team when we were defending because football is about working together,” Numba said.

“When you are in possession of the ball, we have to work together and when you lose possession of the ball we have to work together.

“But for him, when we lost the ball, he wasn’t helping the team so we thought of withdrawing him and bringing in someone who can work both ways.”

It was by far Mubanga’s most subdued performance this season and it was also in total contrast to his display just seven days earlier on October 10 for Chipolopolo in a 1-1 home draw against Equatorial Guinea in a FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 Group B qualifier in Lusaka.