Joseph Musonda

Joseph Musonda

Personal information
Date of birth	(1977-05-30) 30 May 1977
Place of birth	Kalulushi, Zambia
Height
Position(s)	Defender
Team information
Current team	Golden Arrows
Number	4
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
1995	Kalulushi Modern Stars
1995–2003	Nkana
2003-2005	ZESCO United	89	(1)
2005–2006	Free State Stars	25	(0)
2006	ZESCO United
2007	Zanaco FC
2007–	Golden Arrows	124	(6)
International career‡
2002–	Zambia	106	(0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 18 January 2013 ‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 31 December 2013

Joseph Musonda (born 30 May 1977 in Kalulushi) is a Zambian football defender and the club captain of Lamontville Golden Arrows in South Africa. 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.

Described by FIFA 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 up to receive his winners medal.

Musonda made a much quicker recovery from that ankle injury than was expected 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. 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.

Honours

National Team

Zambia

• Africa Cup of Nations: 2012

External links

• Joseph Musonda – FIFA competition record
• Joseph Musonda at National-Football-Teams.com
• Joseph Musonda - Century of International Appearances RSSSF.