Chipolopolo call up comes with pressure – Edward Chilufya

Zambia under-20 midfielder Edward Chilufya has described his summon for national duty as a great task that would require him to give his all and help the young Chipolopolo boys record history in Zambian football.

Chilufya who plays for a Swedish side Djurgadens IF acknowledged the confidence that the under-20 coach Charles Bwale has in him and added that only exceptional playing would be a way of proving to soccer fans that he deserved to be in not only the provisional squad but the final cut as well.

In an interview with Goal Diggers! the former Mpande football academy star also noted that soccer fans had high expectations from foreign-based players adding that the pressure was more intense on his side.

“It is really great to be summoned for national duty but I should mention that it comes with a lot of pressure. Everyone expects so much from a foreign-based player and that does not happen easily. I will have this urge to want to do more than everyone so that I prove to people that I really deserve to be in both the provisional squad and even the final cut,” Chilufya said.

Asked on how easily he would blend in with local players, Chilufya took comfort in the different skills and tactics each player possessed.

“Of course Swedish football is different from Zambian football but it is the difference in skills, tactics and other things that make players complement one another. There are a lot of geniuses and flexible players that play locally and I have such great confidence in them. We will train and play as a team. There is enough time to make adjustments and consequently blend in. Football is no one man show. One can only guide his team to victory,” summed Chilufya.

Chilufya signed his first professional contract with Djurgarden on February 15, 2018 and made his professional debut for the side in a 1-0 Svenska Cupen win over Bk Hacken on March 12. He has represented the Zambia under-20 football team at the 2017 Africa U-20 Cup of Nations. He helped Zambia win the tournament, scoring in the final against Senegal in a 2-0 on March 12 and consequently ended with four goals, and was joint top scorer for the tournament.

Source: News Diggers