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Chipolopolo To Camp In Johannesburg Ahead Of Ghana Match
THE Zambia national soccer team will camp in Johannesburg instead of Ivory Coast ahead of next Friday’s must win 2014 Brazil World Cup qualifier against Ghana.
Football Association of Zambia (FAZ) president Kalusha Bwalya, who confirmed in an interview in Lusaka yesterday, said the Chipolopolo will leave for Johannesburg on Thursday.
FAZ had initially planned to camp the Chipolopolo in Abidjan but the association has opted for Johannesburg, the traditional camping venue.
Kalusha said the team needs to be prepared adequately because the match against the Black Stars in Kumasi is a must-win.
The 1988 African-footballer-of-the-year described the September 6 clash as the most important on Zambia’s 2013 calendar.
Ghana, who lead Group D with 12 points, one better than Zambia, need a draw to progress to the last round while Zambia needs victory to get to the final round.
“Of course it will be our most important game of the year and as FAZ we are treating it with the importance it deserves and we want the team to be well prepared,” Kalusha said.
He said the team has the capacity to beat Ghana at Baba Yara Stadium.
“I am confident we can beat them [Ghana]. We have got a quality technical bench and quality players. I have seen a great Zambian team perform and if they play the way they played in France against Senegal then no doubt we can win,” Kalusha said.
Zambia battled to a 1-1 draw with Senegal in an international friendly in Paris on August 14.
The FAZ chief urged fans to put behind Zambia’s failure to qualify for the African Nations Championship (CHAN) finals and focus on the clash against Ghana.
Zambia lost 1-0 to Zimbabwe last Saturday at Ndola’s Levy Mwanawasa Stadium.
Kalusha said Zambian fans are genuine and are passionate about their team.
He said FAZ expect fans to turn up in numbers in Kumasi and rally behind the team.
“It was unfortunate that we lost but the boys did all they could only that it’s not easy to play the same team four times in a year. And if anything that is how it is in football you win some and lose some,” the former Chipolopolo skipper said.
Kalusha said most of the players that featured in the game against Zimbabwe are young and still have a lot to contribute to Zambian football.
He urged local players to work hard and build on their talent if they are to be part of the senior Chipolopolo.
“In football you have to work extremely hard. You have to put in 100 percent and I think the boys should be encouraged because losing is not the end of the world.
“I would say they have done fairly well, they won the COSAFA Cup and they have played a number of games without losing,” he said.
Posted by
mike
August 27, 2013 at 6:28 am
This is why we rarely win,its like even FAZ lacks common sense.The game will be played in Ghana,why choose to train in S.A where the climate is totally diffrent frm the one in Ghana? I thnk Ivory coast was a better option or they just want to be near clifford? Come 9th Sept its Ghana pume mbwa!
Mpangula Mputyu aka TeamDoraPetauke2013
August 27, 2013 at 7:37 am
It is a defining moment for HR, the Chipolopolo coach.
This will draw his legacy as this is his team. AFCON 2012 he inherited a team. But this one it is his and his training regime.
let us GO Zambia… Go Zambia.
Mj
August 27, 2013 at 7:54 am
@ Mike, I also wonder. It’s like FAZ does not learn. we lost to Sudan in Khatourm partly because of the high temperature there. Had the national team camped in Uganda, the results could have been differrent but they chose to camp in Johannesburg.
This time around, we are playing in Ghana, agian FAZ decides to camp in South Africa. Joberg is one of the coldest cities in Africa and Kumasi is one of the hottest.What is the logic? It would have been better to camp in Nigeria or Ivory Coast as these countries are as hot as Ghana.
We have already lost. believe you me.
Umuzompiki
August 27, 2013 at 9:34 am
Tulewina come wat may!Kufisepa fi Ghana!!!!!!
Smigo
August 27, 2013 at 9:58 am
I am sure will feature an inelligible player, then we can get some 3 free points and goals.
Smigo
August 27, 2013 at 10:00 am
But Coach mupuba sana uyu ayi, at they won the COSAFA Cup and they have played a number of games without losing?? Atase!!!! Drawing games they have should have won-the game in Lesoth and the Sudan game at levy. Those were the two games they should have won. Ubukopo Herve
ndolaman
August 27, 2013 at 12:13 pm
There are playing in the Northern hemisphere and they camp in the southern hemisphere. Some one help the coach. Sports council of Zambia, Ministry of sport intervene. Camp them in Abidjan. That’s the logical option. FAZ executive lacks common sense. Besides they will have a chance to play western African teams for training.
Go Zambia Go
August 27, 2013 at 1:32 pm
Whether you camp in Ivory coast or Jo`burg a win is what matters most.
angel
August 27, 2013 at 1:34 pm
GHANA?!!
Style Records International
August 27, 2013 at 2:15 pm
This is what most blogers are saying why camp in s.a but they are playing ghana.This doesent make any sense
Style Records International
August 27, 2013 at 2:40 pm
who won yesterdays match chealsea vs mancherster united
Felix
August 27, 2013 at 4:02 pm
In any game the final result is pre determined by three critical elements. Planning, training and knowing the team you are playing against. I would have opted to campthe gus where climatic conditions are similar to the ones in Ghana. If the current conditions in SA are similar to current ones in Ghana, well and good. As for the coach, I think the guy needs everyone’s support. Let’s see what Sept 6th will be like for the Chipolopolo. Good luck.
Felix
August 27, 2013 at 4:03 pm
Meant camp the guys…
k.chibs
August 27, 2013 at 5:03 pm
ghana alewa come 6th sep chipolopolo all the way.
bigbuttman
August 27, 2013 at 5:32 pm
Brazil 2014. Here we come!
kk 11
August 27, 2013 at 6:10 pm
Chi kalu, keep. Quiet. Can these chickens beat Ghana? You are the wrong person at Faz. You have killed the game, yo tech team has no football knowledge.
ba zambia
August 27, 2013 at 7:03 pm
lets just 4get about world cup bane. I ve heard dat Essien has also been called. Mumone ababa serious na bola efyo bachita.
Triva
August 27, 2013 at 7:29 pm
Chelsea 0 Manuwa 0. There is no Seriousness in calling Essian, Boateng, Jordan and Andre. this is a sign of panickin. Essein and Prince are Failures. he has always shanned playing with his fellows only wanting the Big Stage. So does Boateng. Let them come and see how they will fall. Remember always. Zambia 1 vs Ghana 0.
One Zebwalya
August 27, 2013 at 7:40 pm
Camping in west africa would hv helped the team,bt Ghana is makin a big mistake by ukusokela a team with great players Ba mukolwe ngabafula balafilwa UKUCHITA inkota.
The Engineer
August 28, 2013 at 8:26 am
FAZ has errd by camping in south africa. they are already preparing for excuses such as ‘ the temperatures where so high when we were playing thus getting exhausted bla bla bla….THey should have camped in Nigeria or Ivory coast or any other country with similar climate pattern. I can only wish chipolopolo the best though iam not optimistic that they can beat Ghana.
gile
August 30, 2013 at 10:06 am
CHIPOLOPOLO will WIN am so sure, GO ZAMBIA GO COPPER BULLETS