Striker Collins Mbesuma has been included as a late call-up for Zambia’s friendly international against Togo in Lome this Wednesday.
Mbesuma is expected to join the team in Togo after featuring for his new Turkish club Bursaspor today in a home league game against Galatasaray.
“Collins is a late inclusion in the team and called us yesterday (Saturday) and told us he would be available and fly direct to Togo after playing for his club today (Sunday),” Phiri said today prior to departure for Togo via Nairobi.
Zambia will transit through Ghana on their way to Togo and later travel by road to Lome from Accra where they will land from Nairobi.
Mbesuma joined Bursaspor at the start of this month after a poor two seasons at English Premier League club Portsmouth.
Phiri also disclosed that the bench was trying to secure the services of midfielder Andrew Sinkala and defender Moses Sichone of 2.Bundesliga clubs Parderborn and Kickers Offenbach respectively.
“Wednesday is a Fifa match day for international games and Sinakla and Sichone will not be doing anything on that date,” said Phiri.
“And so the team manager Solly Pandor is trying to see if we can get them to come and play against Togo.”
Mbesuma’s confirmed availability will bring to 8 the number of foreign-based players expected for the Togo friendly.
Phiri said 4 of the 5 South African-based call-ups will fly direct to Accra where they will meet-up with the rest of the team before embarking a one-and-half hour drive overland to Lome.
Winger Clifford Mulenga of South Africa division 2 team Pretoria University FC traveled together with the rest of the squad out of Lusaka this morning after arriving in the country last week.
Defenders Billy Mwanza and Joseph Musonda including goalkeeper Kennedy Mweene plus strikerr Songwe Chalwe are the other South African-based players called up for the game against Togo.
French based Jacob Mulenga of Ligue 2 team Chateauroux and Christopher Katongo of Danish side Brondby are due to join the team in Lome by Monday
Meanwhile, Phiri has dropped Young Arrows and Zambia Under-20 defender Joseph Zimba due to injury.
Zimba has not recovered from an ankle injury he sustained at the Fifa Under-20 World Cup in Canada in July during the Young Chipolopolo’s last 16 match against Nigeria.
Also missing from the Togo trip is Power Dynamos striker Elson Mukandawire who was left behind after forgetting his passport back in Kitwe.
Team:
Goalkeepers: Kennedy Mweene (Free State Stars, South Africa), Mike Poto (Green Buffaloes), Makasa Mufwaya (Roan United).
Defenders: Dennis Banda, Patrick Masosa (Buffaloes), William Chinyama (Zesco United), Kennedy Nkethani (Zanaco), Patrick Masosa (Buffaloes), Gilbert Kalusa (Lusaka Dynamos),Billy Mwanza, Joseph Musonda (Both Lamotville Golden Arrows, South Africa).
Midfielders: Rainford Kalaba (Zesco United), Kruger Mwansa (Red Arrows), Tom Bakala (Lusaka Dynamos), Allan Mukuka (Mufulira Wanderers), Kennedy Mudenda (Power Dynamos), Clifford Mulenga (Pretoria University FC, South Africa), Lameck Njobvu (Zanaco).
Strikers: Songwe Chalwe (Moroka Swallows, South Africa), Christopher Katongo
(Brondby, Denmark) Enoch Sakala (Zesco United), Ben Mwanza (Roan United), Collins Mbesuma (Bursaspor, Turkey), Jacob Mulenga (Chateauroux, France).
BARCLAYS CUP 1ST ROUND WRAP-UP
Division 1 north promotion chasing team and fallen record 11-time Zambia league champions Nkana FC have reached their second successive cup quarterfinal after beating old foes Kabwe Warriors 1-0 in the first round of the inaugural Barclays Cup played at Nchanga stadium in Chingola on Saturday.
Nkana secured their passage to the last 8 thanks to a 6th minute goal from their DR Congo-born striker Patrick Kabamba who was making his first return to action for the Kitwe team after a work permit hitch.
Saturdays cup win is Nkana’s second this month after reaching the last 8 of the Coca Cola Cup last weekend when they beat another top-flight side this time Young Arrows by a similar margin at Kafubu stadium in Luanshya.
Nkana advanced to the quarterfinals together with Konkola Blades who beat division 2 south side Freedom Rangers 1-0 via a 63rd minute goal scored by Chipulu Chileya in the other 1st round doubleheader match in an earlier kickoff at Nchanga.
And in the second Barclays Cup doubleheader played at Nkoloma stadium in Lusaka, they were 1st round wins for Green Buffaloes and Green Eagles.
Buffaloes beat division 2 south team Young Green Eagles 2-0 where the army men enjoyed the early benefit of a Brian Nduluma own-goal in the 8th minute before Ezekiel Lungu put the result beyond doubt five minutes before the end of the game.
But the biggest roarat Nkoloma was reserved for the all-lower league showdown in the lunchtime kickoff between divsion 2 south team Kascol Rangers and division 1 south club Green Eagles when the latter sweptaside the former 6-0.
A brace from Tresford Mhango with goals in the 8th, 31st and 45th minutes plus another one each from Aubrey Zulu and Saem Kamanga in the 35th and 69th minutes saw Green Eagles through to the quarterfinals.
Naleloeeee ba Nkana bawina Naleloeee ba Nkana bawina.
Lets go Nkana Lets go. This is another of our cups this year.
Warriors do not learn we have taught enough lesson from time way back. Its time for some of you, who write to this globe dismissing Nkana’s prowess, to eat humble pie.
Beston Chambeshi, 1989 Zambia Premier top scorer and 1990 CAF Champions league silver medalist,is doing a good job as coach at Nkana.
There we go, the resurection of Zambia’s best ever super division team. Its Kalampa on the rampage. Just watch us.
One thing that bothers me is why Phiri does not want to include Isaac Chansa in his squad. Can someone speak to him please. Why having a makeshift midfield when you have players capable of performing. We all know for sure that Zambia’s midfield is porous. When you have a weak midfield as a team then you are dead as football is played there. Chansa could make a difference along side Sichone in defensive midfield role. Sichone is currently doing well at his new club. We need tried and tested players.
I agree with # 3, why Chansa is not included in this team beats me.
Here is a team I think Phiri should have taken to Togo, let the boys gel and then easily beat South Africa
Defenders: Kennedy Nkethani, Billy Mwanza, Joseph Musonda, Mischeck Lungu, Moses Sichone.
Midfielders: Rainford Kalaba, Isaac Chansa, Ian Bakala, James Chamanaga, Clifford Mulenga, Lameck Njobvu, Ignitius Lwipa and Andrew Sinkala.
Strikers: Chanswe Nsofwa, Christopher Katongo
Enoch Sakala, Songwe Chalwe, Collins Mbesuma, Jacob Mulenga and Felix Katongo.
There is no time for experiments. This is a must win encounter. I think fans should influence Phiri to select a winning team. Otherwise it will be one of those embarassing moments for Zambian football and i dont’t think Phiri really cares at this point
“Zambia will transit through Ghana on their way to Togo and later travel by road to Lome from Accra where they will land from Nairobi.”
FOR GET ABOUT FATIGUE?? ANYWAY WHAT Ks are we talking about.Looks LIKE FAZ IS BROKE.
OTHERWISE GOOD WISHES TO CHIPOLOPOLO
# 4 Which club is Mischeck Lungu playing for in Hungary???
wHY INCLUDE SINKALA AND NOT CHANSA, BETWEEN THE TWO PLAYERS, CHANSA IS THE BETTER AND DOING WELL AT HIS CLUB, YET EXLUDED FROM THE NATIONAL SOCCER TEAM. WE HEAR OF REPORTS THAT SICHONE DID NOT FEATURE FOR HIS CLUB, WEEK IN, WEEK OUT. WHAT IS WRONG WITH PHIRI? NO WONDER FAZ WANTS TO GET RID OF YOU. HEAR THIS PATRICK ‘INCLUDE ISAAC CHANSA AND NOT SINKALA. WHAT HAS HAPPENED TO IAN BAKALA, MISHECK LUNGU? OME COACHES SHOULD BE BLAMED FOR THE DEMISE OF SOME OF THE PLAYERS. SHAME ON YOU PHIRI?
Its either Zambian soccer has gone to the dogs or the dogs have come to Zambian football.
It will be a very big surprise to me if Zambia makes it to Ghana 2008.
The football in my beloved motherland is in shambles as a result of inempt leadership which has rendered Zedian football useless at this point in time.
There is no doubt that when it comes to natural talent, very feww countries in Africa can compete with us but our downfall has been the failure to harness this talent into a force to reckon with in Africa football. We are a people that leave everything to chance and destiny with a success or survival plan.
What will it take for our football to be organised? A miracle? I do not think so
I meant to say “without success or survival plan”
Misheck Lungu and Lloyd Mumba are playing for Lombard-Pápa TFC in Hungary.
Nkana FC; we love you!!!
# 4 Misheck Lungu plays for Lombard-Pápa Termál FC in Hungary. He used to play with Lloyd Mumba, I think who has since come back(South Africa.)
What needs to be done to rescuscitate the zedian soccer is to have competent leaders who should sit for leadership competency assessment skills by a panel of FIFA experts, noble people that can attract the much needed investment into the zambian soccer.People that have a vision for where they would like Zambia to be in the next 10 years or so. By this time zambia, could have been the leading African soccer power house, but nay, Angola, South Africa etc have overtaken us. Shortly Bostwana is also overtaking us. Shame on Zambian soccer maladministrators.
The problem in Zambia is that we have people who think they know and understand football and football administration, and yet they are full of crap. They have never even kicked a ball before, and even if they have, its street football, iyacimpombwa.
Let us look to the future. Most of the players referred to are in the evenings of their careers. Zambians let us forget about the past and for once plan. The chaps you are talking about have failed to break into meaningful leagues abroad.
Bakapala bafwaya fye ukulalya ubwali pa Zed no bupulumushi. Eco bapwila……
How can you progress when you are full of scambles and quarells. The doctors have been dropped. We have a new coach. We shall play at the graveward in Nkonkola. This what i following us failing to respect traditions. Hard time for Zambia.
FAZ EJECTS TEAM MEDICS
Zambia is the biggest joke I have ever heard.
nkana is coming back to premier that is the only time zambian will start going to watch football to the stadia.nkana coming back means alot to zambian football and pipo will once more in watching local soccer unlike watching english league and so will just say let us go nkana the 11 times champs.we need u to come and teach the zanaco,powers of this world how football shud be like.we are behind u and that we be the only time the national time can do better on the international scene.kalampa nawela watchout
Bushe Ba Denis Liwewe epo baba?
I can see that Zed soccer has a very big problem
I was just wondering does anyone think Emmanuel Mayuka is ready to play Zambia senior.
Zambia will continue struggling up to the end of the age. I dont think Zambian are capable of progressing in anything. There is just too much talk and no action. If you look at FAZ, ni bafikala fye bekabeka. Look at the players commitment, questionable. Zambia, forget about achieving anything, ngani Africa cup yena eeh, belongs to West and North Africa or perhaps Angola or Bafana especially in 2010. Zambia is synonimous with failure and struggling in everything because we have never had people capable of handling issues amicably. Even for us to reach the final in 1994 where we lost to Nigeria was motivated by the support we received both local and internation after the 1993 Gabon disaster. 1974 final was a different era. Takwabapo. Even qualifying to the Africa cup is now a struggle. Sleepiness too much.
Zambian soccer needs help. Hey, why did FAZ get a French coach who was fired by Togo? Can someone with knowledge on the French coach enlighten us about him. Thanks
I think Soccers fans need to get united and stage a boycott of all home matches until administrators wake up. There is just too much finger pointing, anyway katwishi mwe
Bushe Ba Shi Ponga Liwewe epo baba?
Iwe chikala # 25 why are you obsessed with Dennis Liwewe. Just leave him alone wetole. Talk about issues affecting soccer Zambia, young ass.
#23 Chucks, your Tosi wish is granted below;
Noël Tosi (born 25 May 1959 in Philippeville) is a French football coach and former player.
As a player he played for minor clubs in France. His first job as a coach was Deauville in 1986.
Tosi once coached the Congo national football team. He was sworn in as coach in September 2006 after coaching the Mauritania national football team, and French Ligue 2 teams FC Gueugnon and US Créteil-Lusitanos previously. Tosi was charged with improving Congo, and perhaps getting them to the African Cup of Nations.He failed
[edit] Playing career
Carpentras (France) 1966-1976
Avignon Football 84 (France) 1976-1980)
GFCO Ajaccio (France) 1980-1981
Saint-Benoît (Réunion) 1981-1983
Orange (France) 1983-198?
[edit] Teams coached
Deauville (France) 1986-1988
FC Grenoble 38 (France) 1988-1992
Bourges (France) 1992-1993 (Adjoint)
Lucé (France) 1993-1994
Avignon Football 84 (France) 1994-1995
Nîmes Olympique (France) 1995-1996
#26 Please avoid insults, this forum is for discussing soccer matters and not insults. There is nothing wrong with guly finding out the wherebouts of the old man Dennis Liwewe. Its like anyone trying to find out the wherebouts of Charles Musonda.Dennis Liwewe has played a very important role in the development of Zambian football and Guly was trying to find out about him so that may be he can contact him and hear his views on current happenings in FAZ. Lets have respect for each other I beg you.
#28 Thats the way to go. The problem with some blog contributers is that they bring their personal frustrations into this forum. We do not need this kind of people here. If they have nothing to do they must go fishing.
utu tole
Zambia has lost to Togo, yet again 3-1. South Africa lost to Scotland 1-0. Its good that the team has lost, so that Pat Phiri can improve it.
Too bad 3-1
Lets hope the guys have identified their weaknesses so that they can beat Bafana next month. We will be you in Cape Town!!!
On a side note, Ronaldo was diagonised with Hypothyroidism which apparently caused him to gain wieght in the wrong places. This could be the same problem Mbesuma is having, i’m just speculating. His doctors should look into it. We might just have our super Mbesuma back!!!
why do some peole in FAZ fight mulonga instead of supporting him. Now they are using solly pandor to distabilise the zambian Team so that it looks like Mulonga is failing. Just imagine one player told me in Kabwata that our national team is poorly dressed while nike donates kit meant for the Natinal team through Kalu and Pondor who in turn sell in Pandor’s sports shop. Can we develop soccer like that?
And that when players are called to camp pandor tells them not to join in good time like Tana
meTsvi