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Chipolopolo Stars Battle for AFCON Slots to be Named In Final 23 Man Squad
WITH 11 days left before the deadline for submitting team lists for the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), competition in the provisional Zambia soccer squad has intensified as players battle for inclusion in the final 23-man team.
As they seek to win back-to-back AFCON titles, the 22 Chipolopolo players, who set up a training camp in South Africa on Boxing Day, have shown determination to impress coach Herve Renard and get the nod for the final squad.
The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has set January 9 as deadline for the 16 AFCON finalists to submit their team lists.
Renard has expressed happiness with the response from the players at the Milpark camp site in Johannesburg and assured that the squad will be ready for the Group C opening match against Ethiopia on January 21.
Football Association of Zambia (FAZ) spokesperson, Erick Mwanza said training sessions were going on well in Johannesburg with no injury concerns for all the players in camp.
Mwanza said in Lusaka yesterday that Renard and his technical staff were working hard to ensure the Chipolopolo were well-conditioned for the AFCON title defence.
He said the coach had assured that all was well in camp and that the players were determined to make the final AFCON squad.
“This is a bonus for us. Just as the FAZ president (Kalusha Bwalya) said being early birds, we hope to catch the worm,” he said.
The FAZ communications manager said Holland-based top striker, Jacob Mulenga and defender Emmanuel Mbola from Portugal were expected to link up with their colleagues tomorrow in Johannesburg.
On defence kingpin Stoppila Sunzu, Mwanza said the towering Chipolopolo star player was expected to complete his personal business in Lusaka this weekend before rejoin the squad.
Sunzu is believed to be trying to sort out his dream move to English Premiership side, Reading from DR Congo’s TP Mazembe.
Despite the delays to join the squad, Mwanza said, Sunzu, Mulenga, Mbola and striker Emmanuel Mayuka of English Premiership, Southampton would not have difficulties to blend with the rest of the team.
He said Mayuka, whose club is still busy with league assignments, would be the last player to join the squad in South Africa later next month.
Mwanza said playmaker, Rainford Kalaba had continued training alone and remained disciplined by following the prescribed recovery regime after suffering a groin injury at his DR Congo side, TP Mazembe.
He said the Chipolopolo medics and technical staff were optimistic that Kalaba would soon be ready to resume full contact training with his teammates.
Being probably the first team to commence preparations with almost the entire team, Mwanza said, it was a bonus for Zambia and hoped early camping would help the Chipolopolo retain the continental championship.
Zambia will have a first preparatory test in South Africa on January 8 against fellow AFCON finalists, Morocco at the Rand Stadium in Johannesburg.
Mwanza said 2,500 tickets were available for Zambian fans wishing to watch the Chipolopolo’s friendly match against Morocco.
The African champions will a second friendly against Norway on January 12 at the Levy Mwanawasa Stadium in Ndola before wrapping up with Namibia on three days later at the AFCON Group C base in Nelspruit.
Posted by
TimZ
December 29, 2012 at 1:56 pm
wish sunzu & j mulenga good lucky as dey try to join english premier league. Train hard boys as u try to defend wat belongs to u. We are fully behind u in any encounter.
Lee
December 29, 2012 at 2:47 pm
All the best boys, you made us (Zambia) proud, may you please do the same. Go Chipolopolo Go!!!!!
Mwanamfumu
December 29, 2012 at 2:53 pm
Lt them battle,we just want the best at the end!
Ba Lups
December 29, 2012 at 3:15 pm
Drop kakonje,mukuka and salulani phiri.dey r gud playrs but we need xperience there.jacob nd sunzu wishng u best 4 yo moves
striker
December 29, 2012 at 5:11 pm
drop kakonje,salulani & felix
André Tembshenko
December 30, 2012 at 5:54 am
its very unfortunate, tht people who have nevr watched football, though I’m very much sure they have heard abt it, leaves their immature comments here. The lyks of BA LUPS as they sleekingly call themselve. I’m very much u always have gud comments whn it comes cassava(tute) and g/nuts (imbalala). Bakalamba iyi telyashi ya tute ne mbalala, iyo!. How seriously can one drop Mukuka Mulenga and Kalililo Kakonje. We soccer pundits knows hw much tht boy can command play in the central zone area. KK has vast experient at both local and int’l football. One top of tht KK has maturity, whn it comes to camping.
I pity with the levels of your calibre, u can make a gud street comedian.
André Tembshenko
December 30, 2012 at 5:59 am
Its very unfortunate, tht people who have nevr watched football, though I’m very much sure they have heard abt it, leaves their immature comments here. The lyks of BA LUPS as they sleekingly call themselves. I’m very much sure they always have gud comments whn it comes cassava(tute) and g/nuts (imbalala). Bakalamba iyi telyashi lya tute ne mbalala, iyo!. How seriously can one drop Mukuka Mulenga and Kalililo Kakonje. We soccer pundits knows hw much ths boy (MM) can command play in the central zone area. KK has vast experience at both local and int’l football. On top of tht KK has maturity, whn it comes to camping.
I pity with the levels of your calibre, u can make a gud street comedian.
Lee
December 30, 2012 at 10:46 am
How can you drop Mukuka with the uncertainty fitness of Kalaba?
Star
December 30, 2012 at 11:49 am
Ba Andre, well spoken abut MM bt u r oso some hw nt different 4rm ba Lups! Who the hell z KK if nt only a passenger, infact if u realy watch futbal lyk u claim, u’l agree wth me tht the chap who wz in the goal @ the zone 6 z evn far much beta! kakonje hz bn a 2nd choice 4 decades,bt still cn’t evn b trustd in Kenedy mweene’z absence! Kakonje shud definately be droped!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Wanu Ngwee
December 30, 2012 at 1:11 pm
Only those who did not watch Mukuka play against SA would ask that he be dropped. The boy is our latest revelation of the second CHARLES MUSONDA. Ive not seen a free flowing and exceptionally talented Chipolopolo midfielder in over a decade – Mukuka is the one!! When you rewind the clock you’ll find this boy in the class of The late Willy Phiri, Janny Simulambo, Charles Musonda and maybe Derby Mankinka & Jericho Shinde!!
symz
December 30, 2012 at 2:33 pm
felix chamanga and kk shud definately b droped.chivuta must play more
t.man 4 lyf
December 30, 2012 at 3:11 pm
mmmmmmmmmmm!!!!!!!11!!!twaunfwoko!!!!!!umusalula!!!
Wanu Ngwee
December 30, 2012 at 8:40 pm
Can the God’s of our land find places for Rodger Kola & Fwayo Tembo in this squad?