Makinka hails Muntanga's Zambia call-up

by Staff Reporter

Sunday Oct 31, 2021. 14:00

Nkwazi coach Dennis Makinka has described goalkeeper Charles Muntanga’s Chipolopolo recall as well deserved.

Muntanga returns to the Zambia fold for the first time since 2018 during the reign of ex-coach Sven Vandenbroeck.

The Nkwazi number one has been summoned by Beston Chambeshi for November’s FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 Group B qualifier against Mauritania and Tunisia.

Muntanga together with 19 other domestic-based players who enter camp in Lusaka on October 31 to begin preliminary training camp ahead of the two dates.

“I have always told Charles that you are number one, you are the best for me in the country right now,” Makinka said.

“Just look at the number of saves that he is making and look at how many clean sheets he has produced.”

Muntanga has conceded just four goals from nine matches and has kept a clean sheet in the second placed sides his last three matches played.

They include Saturday’s 3-0 away Lusaka derby win over Lusaka Dynamos that moved them within three points of unbeaten FAZ Super League leaders Green Buffaloes on 18 and 21 points respectively.

“I have always told him to believe in himself, keep on working and the chance will come. I just hope he gets an opportunity to be in goals,”Makinka said.

Meanwhile, Chipolopolo host Mauritania in their penultimate Group B match on November 13 in Lusaka and will close with an away date against Tunisia on November 16.

Third placed Zambia is out of contention in the FIFA World Cup race on 4 points from four games played while Mauritania are bottom with 1 point.

Equatorial Guinea has 7 points and are three points behind leaders Tunisia.