Chipolopolo : Libyans Must Fall

AS the Zambia soccer squad regrouped in Kitwe yesterday for Saturday’s decisive 2012 African Cup of Nations qualifier against Libya, the South Africa-based duo of Collins Mbesuma and Joseph Musonda said on arrival that the Chipolopolo needed victory to mathematically seal qualification.

The Chipolopolo, who only need to avoid defeat draw to qualify for the Equatorial Guinea/Gabon finals, started residential training camp at Moba Hotel to begin fine-tuning for the match set for Nchanga Stadium in Chingola. Speaking at the Simon Mwansa Kapwepwe International Airport in Ndola, Mbesuma conceded Zambia would be under pressure to perform before an expectant home crowd but was optimistic victory was guaranteed.

And as Dario Bonetti’s men aim for an outright win, the Golden Arrows striker said it would not be easy and called for more hard work from all his teammates, urging them to remain focused for the final Group C qualifying match.

“It’s not going to be easy but since we are playing at home, we to win at all costs. We just need to be focused and train hard this week,” Mbesuma said. Musonda, also from Golden Arrows, said he was sure all his mates in the squad knew what was at stake and that there was need to avoid mathematical calculations.

He said Zambia, on 12 points, one ahead of Libya, had a better chance of winning Group C and that could only be possible if everybody in the team remained focused on the October 8 match. “We just have to win and I think everybody is aware of this. We don’t want to be involved in calculations,” the veteran defender said.

Zesco United defender Nyambe Mulenga, who is among the few local players in the squad, said Zambia needed to beat Libya to qualify for the Equatorial Guinea/Gabon finals as Group C winners.

Mulenga, who has missed three league matches for Zesco, said Zambia should not qualify as lucky losers but winners and that he was confident the current squad would prevail over the embattled North Africans.

He, however, said the unbeaten Libya was equally a good team which should not be underrated and that the Chipolopolo needed to work hard for the victory. Team manager, Lusekelo Kamwambi said all the South Africa and DR Congo based players were expected in camp last evening to link up with the locals, Nyambe Mulenga, Jacob Banda and Thomas Nyirenda.

Kamwambi said the South African legion of first choice goalkeeper, Kennedy Mweene, Mbesuma, Musonda, Clifford Mulenga, Isaac Chansa, Noah Chivuta and Chintu Kampamba were all scheduled to report to camp yesterday including the DR Congo’s Kalililo Kakonje, Given Singuluma, Stopilla Sunzu, Emmanuel Mbola and Hichani Himoonde.

Qatar-bound winger, Fwayo Tembo, who missed Swiss side FC Basel’s 3-3 draw with Manchester United in the UEFA Champions League last Tuesday, and China-based striker James Chamanga were also expected at Moba Hotel yesterday. He also said the Israel based duo of Justin Zulu and William Njobvu were scheduled to arrive last night from their bases.

Kamwambi said skipper Christopher Katongo also from China and Swiss-based Jacob Mulenga would join their colleagues today while striker Emmanuel Mayuka of Swiss side, BSC Young Boys would arrive in the country tomorrow after featuring for his club last night. And striker Jacob Mulenga signed off for national duty on Saturday on a high, scoring in his Dutch side FC Utrecht’s 3-0 league win over Sparta Rotterdam.

According to the Utrecht website, Mulenga drilled home from the penalty spot on 80 minutes after earlier assisting Johan Martensson score the second in the 63rd minute. The goal by Mulenga, who was later substituted for Enzio Boldewijn, sent the 19,500 crowd at Stadion Galdenwaard Utrecht into ecstasy.

Utrecht took the lead on 16 minutes through Rodney Sneijder, who poked the free kick into the left corner. The Chipolopolo will start training this morning at Arthur Davies Stadium in Kitwe before later in the week shifting to Nchanga Stadium in Chingola.

Posted by Editor on October 3, 2011. Filed under SPORTS. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry