Sunzu signs on loan for Lille

30 July 2015 01:16

Lille have signed defender Stoppila Sunzu on a season-long loan from Shanghai Greenland Shenhua.

The 26-year-old is well known to Lille manager Herve Renard, who was Zambia coach when they won the African Nations Cup in 2012 and then signed Sunzu for Sochaux.

Renard told Lille's official website, www.losc.fr: "Stoppila Sunzu is a very athletic defender with plenty of pace.

"He is a player who has many qualities but can sometimes still lack a bit of maturity.

"During the African Nations Cup win with Zambia in 2012, he was our rock. Without him, it would have been hard to win."

Sunzu added: "I've known Herve Renard a long time and his presence here was an important element in making my decision to commit myself to Lille.

"He is like a father to me. We have wonderful memories in common, like the African Nations Cup in 2012 with Zambia.

"He chose to make me a central defender and it's this position that I've managed to make myself a place."

Source: PA