Zanzala grateful for faith

STANLEY forward Offrande Zanzala has heaped praise on management duo John Coleman and Jimmy Bell for continuing to show faith in him.

After a slow start to the campaign, Zanzala has hit form over the past month, and was named the Man of the Match during Saturday’s 3-1 FA Cup victory over Cheltenham Town.

The 22-year-old is grateful to Coleman and Bell for giving him an opportunity, and he hopes to keep repaying them.

“They are great managers and coaches as well as being great people. Since I arrived here, they have worked with me and I have been happy,” he told the club’s official website.

“They have took me under their arm and supported me through thick and thin. It feels like I have been here forever, not just a year, and I am happy to be part of this journey and be under them. It was great to see a big smile on their faces after the game.

“It means a lot for the team to be in the Third Round of the FA Cup after recent results but I was happy to come on and help the team where I can, contributing with the goal and winning the penalty. The bigger picture though is getting through to the next round and I put in a shift when I came on.

“As a striker, it boosts your confidence coming on and scoring goals and playing games like this, big cup games. It’s good to see the gaffer trusts me whether I am starting or coming on to make an impact.”

Zanzala signed a two-year deal in the summer having spent a portion of last season on loan from Derby County.