Name: John Soko
Country:
ZambiaClub: Nkana F.C.
Position: *SB, DMF
Side: RF/RS
Age: 22-24 years (05/05/1968)
Height: 172 cm *
Weight: 65 kg *
Attack: 67
Defence: 72
Balance: 75
Stamina: 84
Top Speed: 82
Acceleration: 78
Response: 79
Agility: 78
Dribble Accuracy: 73
Dribble Speed: 81
Short Pass Accuracy: 76
Short Pass Speed: 72
Long Pass Accuracy: 73
Long Pass Speed: 72
Shot Accuracy: 65
Shot Power: 77
Shot Technique: 63
Free Kick Accuracy: 56
Curling: 61
Header: 62
Jump: 70
Technique: 76
Aggression: 75
Mentality: 81
Goalkeeper Skills: 50
Team Work: 77
Injury Tolerance: B
Condition: 5
Weak Foot Accuracy: 4
Weak Foot Frequency: 4
Consistency: 5
Growth type: Early/Peak
CARDS:
P04 - Darting Run
S08 - Slide Tackle
SPECIAL ABILITIES: Side - Sliding
Attack/Defence Awareness Card: Balanced
INFO:
Soko was a right-back who could also play as defensive midfielder. He spent his entire though short career at Nkana from the late 1980s to 1993. He capped for Zambia at least 17 times from 1990 to 1993, taking part to the 1990 and 1992 African Cup of Nations. He tragically died in the 1993 plane crash in Gabon.
Despite his short career and premature death, Soko is regarded by many as one of Zambia's greatest right-backs. He was consistent, dependable and reliable as he rarely put a foot wrong or made mistakes throughout the 90 minutes. A no non-sense defender, short and slim but tough and hard in the tackle, sliding carefully to stop his opponenents. Fast on the ball and good in holding it, he was a great overlapping side-back who also scored from time to time. He was occasionally deployed as defensive midfielder where he adapted himself well thanks to a great ball distribution. During a 1993 CAF Champions League match against a Kenyan team, the commentator referred to Soko as "a man who had wings" as he was constantly stopping the attacks and starting his own.