Uganda national team technical director Asuman Lubowa says guest team Zambia will be the team to beat at this years Cecafa Challenge Cup that kicks off on December 31 in Kampala.
Zambia are guest team at this years Cecafa Chellenge cup after Eritrea pulled out due to logistical reasons.
Lubowa told the Uganda Monitor newspaper that were in his opinion the three-time Cecafa Challenge Cup winners are top contenders for the trophy in this years edition of the event that will run from December 31 to January 13.
“They (Zambia) are a strong side and I believe the players and coaches will have so much to learn from the Chipolopolo,” Lubowa told the Monitor.
Zambia won the Cecafa Challenge Cup in 2006 under Patrick Phiri when the tournament was hosted b y Ethiopia after beating Sudan 11-10 on post-match penalties inn the finals following a scoreless draw.
Lubowa said the withdrawal of Zambia, Malawi and Zimbabwe fro Cecafa over 10 years ago to join Cosafa toned down the quality of football in the annual east Africa football tournament.
“We miss the competition those teams used to bring to the tournament,” Lubowa said.
“Cecafa was a regional brand and it would take a really good team to win it. But Zambia’s participation will be a boon to football in the region.”
Zambia are in Group B in this years event together with defending champions Sudan including Kenya, Burundi and Djibouti.
Zambia open their Group B account on New Years eve against Djibouti in a 12:30 kickoff in Jinja.
Fixtures:
31/12/2008
Zambia – Djibouti(12:30)
02/01/2009
Zambia- Kenya (15:00)
04/01/2009
Zambia- Burundi (15:00)
08/01/2009
Zambia – Sudan (12:30)
Semifinals
11/01/2009
Finals Incl 3rd & 4th Place-playoffs
OWEE MAYO
IYE CHIPOLOPOLO
It was funny the last Zambia took part. They won and the trophy was immediately given to Sudan as Zambians were just guests.
ya ya Zambia will get it this time **==
namala 5
number 6
Zambia will definitely shine this time, nevertheless chipolopolo guys don’t relax, what may seem to be small teams can as well do wonders and be stubborn, go go boys, we are behind you**==
Go Zed and prove to the continent that you are a team to look up to.Guess it would prepare us a bit for the big up comming games.They should get there for this Cecafa tounament with a no mercy attitude(don´t underate)All the best **==**==**==**==
**== Bwafya! Naba Uganda? Chsennse pefye nakalembula …na bolla wine fyo tulushila. Things are bad.
Nabwekeshapo nakabili You can never have a strong national team if your clubs are below standard. Ba FAZ you have heard FIFA announcing yesterday that it will help clubs that are financially broke. Please quickly send a financial SOS to FIFA for Nkana, Mighty, Nchanga, Roan,so that our competitive club football can be revived and our national team can then benefit. Hurry FAZ this is no joke.Our current champions are below par because of lack of competition and enthusiasm among fans. Thats why we have failed for 15 years to get to Champions League Yaba!
Anyone one know some free internet links to watch the games for those in the diaspora?
Why is this news???
“Zambian Boss tips Zambian win”, …would be more fitting.
Since when did we learn or get tips from Uganda on football?
Here is the story ba FAZ:
FIFA TO HELP CLUBS
Tokyo – World football body Fifa says it has so far remained immune to the financial storm gripping the world, and vowed to help clubs that were struggling.
“Fortunately, our financial situation nowadays is a very comfortable one,” said President Sepp Blatter, adding that Fifa had multi-million dollar reserves.
The majority of Fifa’s revenues come from staging the World Cup every four years.
Blatter however expressed concern that clubs around the world could be feeling the pinch and said he had told Fifa’s executive committee that they would help wherever possible.
“We’re concerned about the impact of the crisis on clubs. The econom
The economic situation is getting worse by the day and it’s affecting those at the bottom end the most.
“Certain leagues are losing their sponsors, followed by their TV rights. We need to show solidarity in these troubled times.
“Sir Alex Ferguson said recently that the crisis was even worrying Manchester United and Karl Heinz Rummenigge explained that Bayern Munich would not be able to buy any players this winter.”
The organisation said in October that it had concluded a $650m insurance package to cover the 2010 and 2014 events.
As for South Africa in 2010, Fifa said 95% of the budget had already been brought under contract and the organisation was on top of projected costs.
iyee,iyeee chipolopolo..guys go go zambia =d>=d>l-)l-)=d>l-)
16. Soccer Fan # 2,….
I am not so sure if the $650m insurance will be enough for South Africa 2010….. too much crime there !!!!
(~~)**==**==**==**==**==**==
It is small worthless trophy. Get the CAN.
Zambia ma kula!
#19. Walasa. Same crap year in year out. With one final solution at the end.
Spend millions + lose tournament = fire coach.
Makula period!!
#20 ikula ni wiso
#21, walasa ikula niwishi.
WHAT IS CESAFA
#16 Quite true so much crime in South Africa but not only that, there is no public transport that can cope well with a world cup. I have been to 1998 and 2002 world cups and the transport organisation there was awesome. However I think lots of people may not turn up because of the xenophobic violence of this year…
Iwe #22 you should have said that to #21.Oh sorry,maybe you were not yet born when e.g Roan United used to play what we used to call “English Football”
Stylish not English
Nice soccer
Go Zambia!!!
it is very disturbing that some soccer fans in Zambia dont know what CeCAFA is, when Zambia was a member in the recent histroy, have u just started watching football. in any case cecafa members like Uganda and Kenya are ranked far better than Zambia on the fifa rankings. Thank God Zambia only managed one win against Dhibouti
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