Personal information | |||
---|---|---|---|
Full name | Nathan Sinkala[1] | ||
Date of birth | 22 November 1990 | ||
Place of birth | Chingola, Zambia | ||
Height | 1.78 m (5 ft 10 in) | ||
Position(s) | Defensive midfielder | ||
Team information | |||
Current team | ZESCO United | ||
Senior career* | |||
Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
2008–2012 | Green Buffaloes | ||
2009 | → Hapoel Kiryat Shmona (loan) | ||
2012–2020 | TP Mazembe | ||
2014 | → Sochaux (loan) | 15 | (0) |
2014–2015 | → Grasshoppers (loan) | 7 | (0) |
2020–2022 | Stellenbosch | 53 | (5) |
2023– | ZESCO United | ||
International career‡ | |||
2011– | Zambia | 52 | (3) |
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 2 September 2023 ‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 2 September 2023 |
Nathan Sinkala (born 22 November 1990) is a Zambian professional footballer who plays as a defensive midfielder for ZESCO United and the Zambia national team.[2]
Born in Chingola,[3] Sinkala began his career in 2008 with Green Buffaloes,[4] and spent a loan spell in Israel with Hapoel Kiryat Shmona during 2009, playing for their reserve team.[5] At Green Buffaloes, Sinkala scored three leagues goal during the 2009 season,[6] and two league goals during the 2010 season.[7] He also won the Zambian Charity Shield in 2010.[8]
After participating at the 2012 Africa Cup of Nations, Sinkala signed for TP Mazembe on a three-year deal.[9]
On 8 January 2014, Sinkala joined French Ligue 1 side Sochaux-Montbéliard on a loan deal.[10] He later stated that he wished to remain with the club following the end of the loan deal.[11] On 7 July 2014, Sinkala was loaned again from Mazembe, this time to Swiss Super League side Grasshopper Club Zürich.[12]
In January 2020, he moved to Stellenbosch.[13]
In December 2022 he was reported as signing a six-month deal with SC Kfar Kasem in Israel. However, he returned to Zambia and ZESCO United in January 2023.[14][15]
Sinkala made his international debut for Zambia in 2011,[16] and participated at the 2012 Africa Cup of Nations.[17][18] He was called up to Zambia's 23-man squad for the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations.[19]
In October 2013, due to a disagreement between their club TP Mazembe and the Zambian Football Association over international call-ups, Sinkala and two other players (Rainford Kalaba and Stoppila Sunzu) were the subject of a Zambian arrest warrant.[20] All three players later had their passports confiscated by Zambian immigration authorities,[21] before being pardoned by the Zambian government.[22]
In December 2014 he was named as part of Zambia's preliminary squad for the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations.[23] He was injured in his country's opening game in the tournament.[24]
He is the younger brother of Andrew Sinkala.[4]
No. | Date | Venue | Opponent | Score | Result | Competition |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 6 September 2013 | Baba Yara Stadium, Kumasi, Ghana | Ghana | 1–2 | 1–2 | 2014 FIFA World Cup qualification |
2 | 6 June 2014 | Raymond James Stadium, Tampa, United States | Japan | 2–0 | 3–4 | Friendly |
3 | 27 May 2015 | Royal Bafokeng Stadium, Phokeng, South Africa | Ghana | 3–0 | 3–0 | 2015 COSAFA Cup |
Zambia squads | |
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