Zambia national soccer team coach Patrick Phiri is still awaiting defender Elijah Tana to join camp.
“He (Tana) hasn’t arrived yet but we are expecting him,” Phiri said this morning.
Phiri however, could not say when the veteran Zambia captain and defender would join the team in Lusaka.
Tana reportedly arrived in the country on Monday from his base in Sudan where he plays for El Merriekh but has yet to report for training camp.
Tana is currently the only high profile player expected to join the team in Zambia before the team heads to Europe on December 25.
Striker Christopher Katongo of Brondby in Denmark and midfielder Isaac Chansa of Helsingborg in Sweden are some of the high profile European based players already in camp.
The rest of the other remaining foreign based call-ups for Zambia’s provisional squad for next months Africa cup finals are expected to join up with the en route to or in Spain next week.
Zambia is scheduled to play Andalusia’s regional national team on December 27 in Jerez.
All the South African based players including the recalled James Chamanga are due to join the team in Johannesburg.
European-based players Jacob Mulenga of French Ligue 1 club Strasbourg in France and Collins Mbesuma from Bursaspor in Turkey are expected to join the team in Spain.
It is not clear however whether German 2.Bundesliga duo of defender Moses Sichone from Kickers Offenbach and midfielder Andrew Sinkala of Paderborn will be available for the Spain outing.
Meanwhile the team this morning was filing in their entry formalities for Spain.
Phiri also revealed that the players would take a brief break over the weekend to be with their families before regrouping on Christmas Eve prior to departure for Spain.
He also said that no training game is planned in the coming days prior to departure for Europe.
Knowing the behaviour of Zambian players PP should not have allowed them to break off for Xmas. Some will report back to camp with swollen faces. The will drink till ‘kokoliko’.
Kalilo Kakonje is back in South African Premier League after he signed a two year contract with Amazulu on Monday.He was playing for a first division team Nathi Lions.It’s good for the player and our soccer.Aamazulu PRO P.Mabaso said the were happy to have signed the player who will start playing for the team after the Africa Cup of Nations.Report Kick off.com
ZAMBIA national soccer team defence pillar Elijah Tana yesterday failed to make the trip to Spain after he missed the flight to South Africa.
And Tana faces the prospects of being dropped, subsequently missing next month’s Africa Cup of Nations in Ghana on disciplinary grounds.
The Sudan-based defender was not part of the Chipolopolo Boys team that left aboard a South African Airways flight at 07:30 hours yesterday morning.
Team manager Solly Pandor’s efforts to contact the player short
Guys that was not the true colors of Tana..Why of all the players behaving in such a manner?I believe in him and he should lead other youngsters by his good examples.I hope if he will be given an opportunity to play that he will show discipline on the pitch.
I think the inclusion of Kalilo Kakonje as a second choice goal keeper is a wrong move.He is not a good goal keeper and he doesn’t deserve a place.
For Kalilo Kakonje, I think he is not a good goal keeper. It’s a wrong move
lets help the boys by giving them support. i have afeel that its time for zambia.