Reports reaching Kawowo Sports indicate that Zambian Netherlands based striker Jacob Mulenga will miss this weekend’s CAF 2013 South Africa AFCON qualifier due to bereavement.
According to zambianfootball.com, source close to the family could not confirm nor deny the report but stated that Jacob’s father had been ill.
“I tried calling his brother; he said he was in a meeting”. He further stated that Dutch based striker’s father has not been very well for some time.
It is believed that this is what led Jacob to request for leave when the national team travelled to Seoul for an international friendly as he wanted to take time to wait on his dad.
A FAZ source stated that he could not confirm if Jacob had joined camp yet but news reaching also indicated that Jacob had bereavement. Jacob who returned to action after a 6 months lay off due to injury has been steadily work his way back to fitness and managed a goal for his club. He has reclaimed his spot in the starting line-up at his club and played 90 minutes in the weekend game.
He was poised to be the man to lead the line for Zambia in the Uganda game after Emmanuel Mayuka seemed to be out muscled by the Ugandan defenders. Jacob becomes the second player to be ruled out of this Saturday’s game following injury to midfield maestro Rainford Kalaba.
Kalaba sustained a groin in injury in the Orange CAF Champions league draw when he played for TP Mazembe over the weekend.