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FC SOCHAUX Zambia defender Stopilla Sunzu (left) greets his coach Herve Renard after scoring. – Picture courtesy of SOCHAUX website.
By STEPHEN PHIRI
ZAMBIA defender Stopilla Sunzu has been named in the French team of the week after putting up a scintillating performance in FC Sochaux’s 1-0 win over Nantes last Saturday.
Sunzu’s powerful header was enough for Sochaux to collect maximum points.
The team of the week was named by a French newspaper L’equipe.
FC Sochaux coach Herve Renard confirmed the development in an interview from France yesterday.
“This week Sunzu is in the team of the week named by a French newspaper (l’équipe). A great performance from him. When he scored on Saturday, I felt something special. I was proud of him, proud about Zambia,” Renard said.
The former Zambia national soccer team coach said had Sunzu and midfielder Nathan Sinkala joined the team earlier, FC Sochaux could not have been second from the bottom.
Sochaux are lying second from the bottom with 15 points, four better than bottom-placed Ajaccio.
Sinkala and Sunzu joined Sochaux last month from Democratic Republic of Congo side TP Mazembe.
“If Sunzu and Sinkala were there before, the story was not going to be the same. Sunzu has been great and fantastic since joining us and it is not a surprise,” Renard said.
Sinkala, who was serving a suspension, is expected to return to action on Saturday against FC Lille.
Renard said with Sinkala and Sunzu playing their lungs out, Sochaux will survive relegation.
“Now things have changed, the last two games we took four points. It’s a huge improvement. But it is still a long way to achieve our very difficult mission,” he said.
Striker Emmanuel Mayuka is the other Chipolopolo player at Sochaux.
Mayuka is on loan from English Premiership side Southampton.
