Offrande Zanzala Named Barclays U21 Player Of The Month

Offrande Zanzala has won the Barclays Under 21 Premier League Player of the Month award for October.

The young forward, who recently turned 19, scored four goals in three Under 21 Premier League – Division 2 games over the course of the month, helping Darren Wassall’s side claim three victories in the process.

It was his overall performances in Derby County Under 21s’ frontline that caught the eye, though, with the monthly nominees for the Under 21 award being chosen by opposition managers.

Zanzala beat off stiff competition from Sunderland’s Charalampos Mavrias and Swansea City’s Ollie McBurnie.

His strike in the 4-0 away win at Brighton & Hove Albion was his first of the season and after finding the net in the 2-1 win at Stoke City, then his fourth of the month, the young forward said he believed that he had found his feet at Under 21 level since stepping up from the Under 18s group last season.

Zanzala said: “Stepping up from the Under 18s to the Under 21s squad is a big difference. The pace of the game is a lot quicker at this level and as a forward stepping up, you have to adapt as soon as possible.

“I’ve done that now, I’m more settled and I’m comfortable now playing at this standard.

“Admittedly, it has taken longer to get to this stage that I thought it would, but now I’m finding the back of the net again and I feel like the player that I did last year. I just want to kick on though.”

A full interview with the forward will be available across dcfc.co.uk and Rams Player HD in due course.

Darren Wassall, Derby’s Academy Director, said the accolade was even more ‘special’ for the fact that it is voted for by opposition managers.

Wassall also reserved praise for the forward’s work rate, enthusiasm and commitment.

He told Rams Player HD: “It’s special to know that fellow coaches from opposition sides voted for Offrande as the best player of the month.

“It’s a great accolade for the fact that they have recognised his performances, just as we have. He is an emerging talent and has enormous potential.

“As a player, you know what you are going to get both during a game and in training. He is fully committed.

“His enthusiasm for work and for playing football is second to none and we hope that continues for many years to come.

“In recent weeks he has begun to form a really good partnership with Mason Bennett and they have scored six goals between them. They have really set the league on fire."

He added: “The opportunity that the Under 21s get to train with the first team is one that they all relish.

“It’s what they are all here for at the end of the day and Offrande on many occasions has gone down and trained with the first team.

“Quite rightly so because he’s been excellent this season as he was last year. Even yesterday, in the behind closed doors friendly with Notts County, his performances in recent weeks has been rewarded with a second half substitute appearance with the first team.

“Again, he played well, put himself about, he’s got great qualities and he’s proven in the last month that he knows where the back of the net is, which is what you want from your centre forward.”

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