Friday, March 29, 2024

Soccer fans to hold solidarity prayer match for Under 20 national team

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The Zambia Voluntary Soccer Fans Association, ZAVOSOFA, will this Thursday organise a solidarity prayer match past for the under 20 national soccer team in Canada who play Nigeria the same day in the pre-quarter finals of the ongoing FIFA Under-20 world cup.

ZAVOSOVA patron pastor Peter Makembo said in a statement released to ZANIS in Lusaka
today that the solidarity prayer match past will also cover the Zambian contingent
representing the country at the All-Africa games taking place in Algeria.

Pastor Makembo said soccer fans will match from Lusaka’s main Post Office through
Church road and Dedan Kimathi road to the Freedom Statue on Independence avenue
where speeches and prayers will be made.

He said sports minister Gabriel Namulambe and Football Association of Zambia, FAZ,
officials are also expected to take part in the match past.

He said Lusaka division police deputy commanding officer Kedrick Zombe has since
approved the match past as requested.

Pastor Makembo appealed to soccer fans and the public at large to turn up in large
numbers for the match past and support the young Chipolopolo boys as they take on
their Nigerian counterparts in a must win encounter in Canada.

He said the boys have performed wonders in Canada and deserve the support of all
Zambians.

Pastor Makembo said he has been in constant touch with delegation leader Kalusha
Bwalya in Canada who has assured him that morale in the Zambian camp is high ahead
of Thurday’s titanic match.

On reports of interference by Kalusha in the training of the lads, Pastor Makembo
said there is nothing wrong in Kalusha as delegation leader and footballer himself
to give  tips to the coaching bench to stregthen the team.

‘Kalusha has no boundary. Football is in his blood. As delegation leader and
footballer himself , he has the right to give tips to the coaching bench,’ said
pastor Makembo.

Pastor Makembo also urged the coaching bench for the senior national team to start
preparations for the ‘do or die’ duel with South Africa in September.

He said Zambia cannot afford to take things lightly over that match as it will
decide whether the country proceeds to the ‘Can 2008 in Ghana or not.

‘Preparations must start now if we are to beat South in Cape Town. We understand
South African football authorities are even planning to make entry into the stadium
free of charge in order to allow more of their soccer fans to cheer their team.

This is the kind of opposition we will face, but as soccer fans we are not scared., We
will also travel enmasse to cheer out team, he said.

The George Lwandamina tutored Under 20 national team on Saturday beat pre-tournament favourites Uruguay 2 – 0 to advance to the last 16 of the ongoing FIFA junior world cup in Canada.

7 COMMENTS

  1. Who’s been the best player at the FIFA U-20 World Cup Canada 2007 so far?

    Results

    1) Gio Dos Santos (MEX)
    29.43%
    2) Freddy Adu (USA)
    27.13%
    3) Arturo Vidal (CHI)
    10.74%
    4) Sergio Aguero (ARG)
    8.41%
    5) Other
    8.01%
    6) Ezekiel Bala (NGA)
    6.55%
    7) Tsukasa Umesaki (JPN)
    2.24%
    8) Adrian Lopez (ESP)
    2.07%
    9) Carlos Vela (MEX)
    2.01%
    10) Ousmane Jallow (GAM)
    1.81%
    11) Clifford Mulenga (ZAM)
    1.39%

  2. It’s unclear whether Kalusha’s contributions are welcome by the bench or not, if not, he should keep his distance as not to distabilze the atmosphere created in camp by the coaching staff. I wish the boys all the best in their next encounter, they have done us proud, we could only wish politicians had such a patriotic spirit rather than their individual selfishness!

  3. Pastor Makembo God is fair to all. This is Just sport the team best prepared physically, tacticaly,technicaly and sometimes lucky wins.

    Please do not bring God into this. What if the team loses after the prayer match ?, will it mean that there was something wrong with your prayers or maybe God just did not want to us to win.

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