• SUNZU being unveiled as Chinese Super League club, Shanghai Greenland Shenhua player yesterday.

By MOSES CHIMFWEMBE –

CHIPOLOPOLO skipper Stoppila Sunzu has ditched struggling French Ligue 2 side, FC Sochaux-Montbéliard for the Chinese Super League club, Shanghai Greenland Shenhua.

The 24-year-old former TP Mazembe player sealed a three-year deal yesterdayt believed to be in the range of US$3 million (about K18.9 million).

Sunzu becomes the fourth Zambian player to move to Chinese League after ex-Chipolopolo captain Christopher Katongo, Isaac Chansa and James Chamanga, who is still featuring for Liaoning Whowin.

His move comes just a year after trekking to Europe from DR Congo giants, TP Mazembe on a three-and-a-half-year deal worth Euros 1 million.

Sunzu joined then French Ligue 1 club Sochaux-Montbéliard on January, 6 2014, along with his team-mate Nathan Sinkala and went on to score important goals in a bid to secure his team’s survival from relegation that proved futile.

According to a French sports publication, daily L’Equipe, the Zambian defence linchpin was unveiled at his new club yesterday after sealing the deal.

The Zambian centre half is set to link up with his new club after the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) finals next month.

Sunzu will join compatriot and striker Chamanga, who plays for Liaoning Whowin and finished two places below Shenhua at number 11 this season in the 16-team league.

Shenhua, who finished in ninth place on 35 points from 30 games, have won two Chinese Super League titles in 1995 and 2003 and were runners-up in 2008.

Sunzu is set to join the Chipolopolo camp in South Africa for the final phase of team selection ahead of the 2015 AFCON finals to be hosted by Equatorial Guinea from January 17 to February 8.

The 2012 AFCON winning defender began his career with Konkola Blades and then switched to Afrisport before moving to Zanaco.

Sunzu then had a loan spell at French Ligue 2, LB Châteauroux before shifting to Congolese giants TP Mazembe.

Last week, Chipolopolo coach Honour Janza backed Sunzu to take up the offer to play in the Chinese Super League.

Janza said that he was behind the decision by Sunzu to join the Chinese side because he was still a young and talented player whose welfare should come first in order for him to continue developing in his football career.

Janza said he had a talk with the Chipolopolo skipper who informed him that Sochaux was going through financial challenges.