February 11, 2012 Former Liverpool, Valencia and Inter Milan coach Rafa Benitez has lauded the performance of the Chipolopolo attacking duo Chris ‘Tsunami’ Katongo and Rainford Kalaba as described them as ‘special players.’ Click to listen to BBC archive on the coverage of Zambia’s air disaster in 1993 Click here to watch Chipolopolo Boys’ arrival in Gabon Though the Spaniard said this prior to Zambia’s 1-0 win over Ghana on Wednesday, many agree with Benitez’s assertions and believe this year’s African Cup of Nations Most Valuable Player of the Tournament is likely to go to either the hardworking Chipolopolo Boys skipper Chris Katongo or the mercurial midfield genius Kalaba. ” We know Drogba, Toure, Keita, Gevinho but Katongo and Kalaba are special,” Benitez said in praising the two Chipolopolo Boys duo who hail from Mufulira. It could also be triple win for Chris Katongo if Zambia go on to claim the title as he can still finish as top scorer. ‘Tsunami’ is currently on three goals with wonderboy Emmanuel Mayuka and Sunday’s opponents Ivory Coast’s talisman Didier Drogba. Both skippers Katongo and Drogba will be wearing jersey no. 11 with Zambia expected to play in the Copper Jersey while the Ivorian will change stripe from their famous Orange kit. Should the 21 year Mayuka score a goal in the final and probably finish as top scorer, then the ‘Team of the Tournament’ front three is likely to be occupied by Zambian players- Rainford, Mayuka and Katongo- unless Gervinho will come up with another match winning performance in the final. Other Zambian players with a chance of finding themselves in the ‘Best XI’ are goalkeeper Kennedy Mweene and centre back Stopilla Sunzu. A clean sheet for Mweene in the final will might see claim the goalkeeper of the tournament while Sunzu has grown in stature just like he has showed over the years after starting out as a striker to central midfield before finally settling at the height of the Chipolopolo defence. At the 2010 edition of African Cup of Nations, only Emmanuel Mbola and Jacob Mulenga made the final 23 CAF Team of the Tournament in star contrast to this year were four players are expected to be named in the ‘Best XI’ with a possibility of six being in the team of the tournament as young Nathan Sinkala could sneak in after a good debut tournament. Pass4sure ccsp ccvp cisa cissp crm certification db2 certification itil certification hp certification icnd Facebook comments: 12 Comments on “Rafa Benitez singles out Tsunami and Kalaba for top gong” Soccerguru on Sat, 11th Feb 2012 2:41 PM If rafa thinks they are the best….they definitely are the best! Kalaba will be player of the tournament but mayuka will bag the golden boot! He is scoring tomorrow for sure! K ways on Sat, 11th Feb 2012 2:57 PM I like it Rafa. Raphael Tembo on Sat, 11th Feb 2012 3:03 PM Yes my advert sake has just spot on and i can see kalaba at a big club in europe. Mabbwana on Sat, 11th Feb 2012 3:05 PM The two plus Mayuka are special! They are a fantastic 3. simms on Sat, 11th Feb 2012 3:28 PM definitely why not? EMPIRE on Sat, 11th Feb 2012 4:07 PM the guys have really showed their talents they deserves credit EMPIRE on Sat, 11th Feb 2012 4:07 PM the guys have really shown their talents they deserve a credit! Cornelius daka on Sat, 11th Feb 2012 4:11 PM Thats fo sure kalaba wl get da award n mayuka wil b joint top scora wit chris as dey both wil score tmro Anonymous on Sat, 11th Feb 2012 4:15 PM Chris and Mayuka will both score.It is good we will wear orange, physicologically we have won. Anonymous on Sat, 11th Feb 2012 5:20 PM Let’s pray for victory now for the Zambian team now.It’s time to win the first final. Soccerguru on Sat, 11th Feb 2012 8:45 PM My Afcon 2012 team of the tournament Goalkeeper: Kennedy Mweene (Zambia) Left back: Tamboura (Mali) Center back: Stophila Sunzu (Zambia) Center back: John Boye (Ghana) Right back: Gosso Gosso (Ivory Coast) Left wing: Mskani (Tunisia) Center Midfield: Cheik Tiote (Ivory Coast) Center Midfield: Yaya Toure (Ivory Coast) Right wing : Rainford Kalaba (Zambia) Striker: Emmanuel Mayuka (Zambia) Striker: Christopher katongo (Zambia) /aunemayeng (Gabon) / dider drogba (ivory coast) Baba on Sat, 11th Feb 2012 8:50 PM Psychologically is the correct spelling. Mine has spell check. You have to be anonymous to spell it physicologically. Any way go Zambia. Powered By WizardRSS.com | Full Text RSS Feed | Amazon Affiliate | Android Games | WordPress Tutorials
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Rafa Benitez singles out Tsunami and Kalaba for top gong
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