Joseph Musonda

Joseph Musonda
Personal information
Date of birth (1977-05-30) 30 May 1977
Place of birth Kalulushi, Zambia
Height 1.76 m (5 ft 9 in)
Playing position Defender
Club information
Current team
 Nkana
Number 4
Youth career
1995 Kalulushi Modern Stars
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1995–2003 Nkana
2003–2005 ZESCO United 89 (1)
2005 → Free State Stars (loan) 25 (0)
2005–2006 ZESCO United
2007 Zanaco
2007–2014 Golden Arrows 164 (7)
2014–2015 Polokwane City 21 (0)
2015– Nkana
National team‡
2002– Zambia 106 (0)

* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 3 August 2016.

‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 31 December 2013

Joseph Musonda (born 30 May 1977 in Kalulushi) is a Zambian football defender who plays for Zambian Premier League club Nkana. An accomplished and reliable defender, he plays in either full back position for his national team and centre back for his club. He is Zambia's most capped player according to FIFA.[1][2]

Career

Described by FIFA[3] as the 'father figure' of the Zambian team, Joseph Musonda is fitter than ever and still very much a part of the nation's defence of the Africa Cup of Nations.

Having contributed so much to Zambia's historic win in the 2012 Africa Cup of Nations it was cruel that Joseph Musonda's final v Côte d'Ivoire should be cut short by injury after just 11 minutes. Despite this, Musonda was finally able to celebrate what was his 100th match for Zambia when his team went on to win 8-7 on penalties. Musonda injured his ankle making a vital intervention against Gervinho who was bearing down on goal and he left the field in visible distress. Despite his uncompromising defending, Joseph Musonda is considered to be one of the gentlemen of the Zambia national team, so it was no surprise when his opponent that day, Didier Drogba, came to comfort him as he was brought off the field. Manager Herve Renard would later carry him[4] up to receive his winners medal.

Musonda made a much quicker recovery from that ankle injury than was expected[5] demonstrating his powers of recovery and he was soon playing again for Golden Arrows in South Africa. Indeed, in June 2012 the club tied him to a three-year contract extension that will take Musonda to 38 years of age.[6] At the time, Joseph Musonda turned down the opportunity to play in the United Arab Emirates on a lucrative contract.

Joseph Musonda was part of the Zambian 2006 African Nations Cup team. He was also picked in the 2008 squad for the AFCON and Zambia were eliminated in the group stage before being part of the 2010 squad that made it to the Quarter Finals of the competition eventually losing to Nigeria in a penalty shoot-out.

In his native Zambia, Musonda was a two times winner of the league championship with Nkana FC in 1999 and 2001.[7]

Honours

National Team

Zambia

References

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