| Nathan Sinkala | |
| Fullname: | Nathan Sinkala[1] |
| Birth Date: | 1990 11, df=y |
| Birth Place: | Chingola, Zambia |
| Height: | 1.78 m |
| Position: | Defensive midfielder |
| Currentclub: | ZESCO United |
| Years1: | 2008–2012 |
| Clubs1: | Green Buffaloes |
| Years2: | 2009 |
| Clubs2: | → Hapoel Kiryat Shmona (loan) |
| Years3: | 2012–2020 |
| Clubs3: | TP Mazembe |
| Years4: | 2014 |
| Clubs4: | → Sochaux (loan) |
| Caps4: | 15 |
| Goals4: | 0 |
| Years5: | 2014–2015 |
| Clubs5: | → Grasshoppers (loan) |
| Caps5: | 7 |
| Goals5: | 0 |
| Years6: | 2020–2022 |
| Clubs6: | Stellenbosch |
| Caps6: | 53 |
| Goals6: | 5 |
| Years7: | 2023– |
| Clubs7: | ZESCO United |
| Nationalyears1: | 2011– |
| Nationalteam1: | Zambia |
| Nationalcaps1: | 52 |
| Nationalgoals1: | 3 |
| Club-Update: | 2 September 2023 |
| Nationalteam-Update: | 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.
Born in Chingola,[2] Sinkala began his career in 2008 with Green Buffaloes,[3] and spent a loan spell in Israel with Hapoel Kiryat Shmona during 2009, playing for their reserve team.[4] At Green Buffaloes, Sinkala scored three leagues goal during the 2009 season,[5] and two league goals during the 2010 season.[6] He also won the Zambian Charity Shield in 2010.[7]
After participating at the 2012 Africa Cup of Nations, Sinkala signed for TP Mazembe on a three-year deal.[8]
On 8 January 2014, Sinkala joined French Ligue 1 side Sochaux-Montbéliard on a loan deal.[9] He later stated that he wished to remain with the club following the end of the loan deal.[10] On 7 July 2014, Sinkala was loaned again from Mazembe, this time to Swiss Super League side Grasshopper Club Zürich.[11]
In January 2020, he moved to Stellenbosch.[12]
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.[13] [14]
Sinkala made his international debut for Zambia in 2011, and participated at the 2012 Africa Cup of Nations.[15] [16] He was called up to Zambia's 23-man squad for the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations.[17]
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.[18] All three players later had their passports confiscated by Zambian immigration authorities,[19] before being pardoned by the Zambian government.[20]
In December 2014 he was named as part of Zambia's preliminary squad for the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations.[21] He was injured in his country's opening game in the tournament.[22]
He is the younger brother of Andrew Sinkala.[3]
Scores and results list Zambia's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Sinkala goal.
| No. | Date | Venue | Opponent | Score | Result | Competition | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 6 September 2013 | Baba Yara Stadium, Kumasi, Ghana | 1–2 | 1–2 | 2014 FIFA World Cup qualification | ||
| 2 | 6 June 2014 | Raymond James Stadium, Tampa, United States | 2–0 | 3–4 | Friendly | ||
| 3 | 27 May 2015 | Royal Bafokeng Stadium, Phokeng, South Africa | 3–0 | 3–0 | 2015 COSAFA Cup |