Zambia Under-20 coach Mumamba Numba says midfielder Ngosa Sunzu will have earn his place in the team despite his 2017 FIFA U20 World Cup stint.

Sunzu is part of the 45-member players summoned for trials in Lusaka as Zambia prepares to host the 2017 COSAFA U20 Cup from December 6-16 on the Copperbelt.

“It is up to him. I believe everyone has to earn their place on merit. There nothing like he played in the last World Cup,” Numba said.

“He has to prove himself in the team.”

Sunzu is currently at FAZ Super Division side Napsa Stars after two seasons in Israel.

He played just one match in the group stages in South Korea in Zambia 1-0 loss to Costa Rica en route to a quarterfinal exit.

And Numba said they were no foreign-based players in his preliminary plans for the 2017 COSAFA U20 Cup.

The core of the team is expected to comprise of the side Numba coached to victory in the 2017 COSAFA U17 Cup hosted by Mauritius in July.

“For the Cosafa, we will and maintain the local players but we will try and look at others outside when we start preparing 2019 U20 AFCON qualifiers,”Numba said.

“We will give these players a chance to gain the experience from this tournament.”

Zambia are in Group A where they have been drawn against Malawi, Swaziland and guest side Uganda.

Numba’s side will kick off its COSAFA U20 Cup title defence on December 6 against Uganda at Arthur Davies Stadium in Kitwe.