The body of the late Zambia national team striker Chaswe Nsofwa who died last Wednesday after collapsing during training with his Israel club Maccabi Beersheba arrives in the country tomorrow afternoon.
A family spokesman revealed today that the body will arrive 24 hours ahead of schedule on Wednesday with burial tentatively set for Thursday in Lusaka at Old Leopards Hill Cemetery.
Nsofwa’s Zambia team mates are expected to attend the burial before the squad departs for South Africa on the late evening flight out of Lusaka for Johannesburg.
The team meanwhile gathered for training camp in Lusaka yesterday and the home-based players were by midday Tuesday joined by six foreign-based squad members in camp.
The six in camp include Christopher Katongo of Brondby in Denmark who was the only one of four European-based call-ups to arrive in camp by lunchtime.
The rest are the Angola based trio of Ian Bakala, Dube Phiri and Felix Katongo including Songwe Chalwe and Kennedy Mweene, both based in South Africa.
Zambia takes on South Africa in their final Africa Cup Group 11 qualifying game this Sunday that will be played at Newlands in Cape Town.
Meanwhile, the Zambia Under-23 team wraps-up its Kitwe training camp on Wednesday before shifting camp to Lusaka ahead of Saturday Olympic qualifier against Senegal under-23 to be played at Nkoloma stadium.
Goalkeeper Kalililo Kakonje is the first of three foreign-based players, all South African based, to arrive in camp.
Kakonje meanwhile has just completed a 1-year loan deal from top-flight Golden Arrows to division 1team Nathi Lions.
Others expected are defender Davies Nkausu and Given Singuluma of Pretoria University and Bay United respectively.
The Under-23 will play Nkana in a training game on Wednesday.
Goalkeepers: Kennedy Mweene (Free State Stars, South Africa), Mike Poto (Green Buffaloes), Makasa Mufwaya (Roan United).
Defenders: Willy Chinyama (ZEsco United), Clive Hchilensa (IFK Mariehamn, Finland), Kennedy Nkethani (Zanaco), Elijah Tana (El Merrikeh, Sudan), Joseph Musonda, Billy Mwanza (Both Lamotville Golden Arrows, South Africa), Mark Sinyangwe (Nkana).
Midfielders: Ian Bakala, Felix Katongo (Both Clube Desportive de Augusto, Angola), Tom Bakala (Lusaka Dynamos), Isaac Chansa (Helsingborg, Sweden), Kennedy Mudenda (Power Dynamos), Allen Mukuka (Mufulira Wanderers), Lameck Njovu (Zanaco), Andrew Sinkala (Paderborn, Germany).
Forwards: Songwe Chalwe (Moroka Swallows, South Africa), Christopher Katongo (Brondby, Denmark), Collins Mbesuma (Bursaspor, Turkey), Elson Mukandawire (Power Dynamos), Jacob Mulenga (Racing Strasbourg, France), Ben Mwanza (Roan United), Dube Phiri (Clube Desportive de Augusto, Angola), Enoch Sakala (Zesco United).
From the line up above, PP has got all it takes to destroy Bafana Bafana(BB). The ball is in PP’s court to plan properly and select players who be able to perform come Sunday. They should not be intimidated by Benni’s return. I know Tana and Nkethani will frustrate him from the word go.Come Sunday BB will fall.Chipolopolo Iyeee…
The game will be very interesting. Carlos Alberto Perreira has admitted that this will be his toughest game since assuming coach of Bafana bafana. From what I see, there will be fireworks on that day. This is the time our boys should rise to the occasion. SA are very much beatable. All the guys need is confidence and self belief. We have a good sqquad. My predicted squad (my opinion). Goal Keeper: Kennedy Mweene, Defenders: Clive Hachilensa, Joseph Musonda, Kennedy Nkethani, Elijah Tana, Midfielders: Isaac Chansa, Andrew Sinkala, Felix Katongo, Chris Katongo, Strikers: Collins Mbesuma, Jacob Mulenga.
Unless the coach decides to play three strikers, then Chris will assist Mbesuma and Mulenga. There is actually no need for us to play defensive game. We need an offensive (attacking) kind of play as we have nothing to lose here. Once again this is just my opinion my fellow Chipolopolo soccer fans. Lets go Zambia.
In my opinion, PP should start with Dube Phiri instead of Mbesuma. They know Mbesuma well so they will try by all means to frustrate him. Dube phiri is a new name to them and he is a deadly striker. Iam sure he can combine well with Chris Katongo and Jacob mulenga upfront.My main worry is the mid field.
I like the enthusiasm and the confidence from the guys on the blog.All we need is the same from the players.We need the boys to be psychologically prepared for this game as well.Billy your pre-game line up looks good.I would have liked to have Davies Mwape on the bench.In case we needed a change in the attack he would have been a good option.Maybe S.Chalwe can do a better job i don’t know.Inchimwela guys come Sunday
God’s favor be on your side Zambia. It will be tough. Cape Town’s weather for Sunday will be excellent I hope the supporters can sreate the needed atmosphere for the national team.
#5 you must not mention the word of GOD in the these worldly tournaments.Just wish our team good luck.thats
all!
Much as i am a bit sceptical about our team, am sure a win is possible.
BB dont posses the best team as of now. Their recent record shows for itself. And despite having Perreira as their coach, he can only do so much, the rest is up to their players to deliver, whom i dont think are more superior to our boys
Good luck boys.
We are going to lose coz there is a tonga as a goal keeper. Since when have started using tongas as keepers? We need Davies Phiri in goal, not mabisi/sour milk…. or put some monkeys in goal like my cousins bembas. Mwebantu, plz listen, Mweene is playing for division in SA league and using him it will be disaster… buyas say something.
Citizen you have your facts wrong.Kennedy Mweene is playing for Free State Stars who are in the Premier Soccer League (SA) not division 1 or what ever you wanted to say.Davies Phiri was recently released by his former club Golden Arrows cos he couldn’t command a place in the team.Hes currently playing for Durban Stars a division one team (Mvela league).Kennedy is currently the best goal keeper in Zambia.Hes team is on # 5 on the PSL log and the man has played in all Free S.Stars games for the current season. All the best to the guys on Sunday.
Citizen #8. Its sad that you sound like a tribalists and a sadist at the same time. Secondly Mweene is playing for Free State Stars in the Premier Soccer League and mind you, this is a good side. They havent lost any match this season and I can assure you they play exciting football. We dont want pessimists. If we lose so be it, that will not make Bafana a good side at all. In football my brother, its either a win, lose or draw. I respect your opinion but dont put down other people on the basis of their tribe. Its very wrong.
Mweene is a very good goal keeper, i think #8 you don’t watch football. Viva Zambia Viva Chipolopolo. Cape town here we come !!!
# 6 Did you know that Zambia was declared a Christian nation? If you are not a Christian, be reminded that not all who watch football are not Christians. I am a Christian and I watch football, and I Love Chipolopolo and I thank God that he allows it that I enjoy football. So there is nothing good like football that can’t be Christian.
By the way #6, I have not mentioned the Bible if it’s what you meant by “the Word of God.”
The game against SA will be really hard.However, when I remember Mbesuma 2 years ago I have hope. That guy was on fire. If he can rekindle his form I see him bieng one of the best strikers in Africa. Remember Mbesuma is only 23. He is not at his peak yet we have a great future. If Mbesuma rekindles his form in Turkey I see him being the African footballer of the year one day. Remember players like Drogba and Eto’o are ageing. Drogba will be 30 soon but we have a younger team.
Our undoing will always be our defence. Without Tana and Sichone we should have atleast called up Hichani Himonde and Nyambe Mulenga to solidify our defence. By the way why doesn’t phiri consider Noah Chivuta even friendly games and COSAFA.
Mark my words “we can beat SA if we work on our defence”
Kemps i agree with you i would have loved to have Sichone and Tana around.Now who plays in Central defence with K.Nketani after these two guys are out? We have never had a strong defence and with Sichone and Tana it surely doesn’t get better.I don’t know how good Nyambe Mulenga is, at the U-20 World Cup the guy was getting yellow cards and he also got a red.H.Himonde i have never seen him play.
Nyambe Mulenga is too rough
Nkethan Will partner Billy Mwanza in central defence, while hachilensa will be making those darting runs from the wing backs. I don’t really believe that Sichone is a good defender, but rather a defending midfielder, he sold us out against South Africa.
GB.I believe that against South Africa Sichone just had a bad day.While’s at his former club Armenia Aalachen he was being played as a defencesive midfielder, we normally him as a defender.During the same game it also looked like he had sprained thing cos he had a bandage on one of his thing.I personally travelled back home for that game it was bad after we lost 0-1.We all trooped out of the Independence the stadium quietly.The Same will before the South Africans at New Lands on Sunday.
# 19 Really, I like your confidence.From the look of things South Africa is damn afraid of Zambia, they are not speaking out confidently of beating zambia. If they can beat Zambai at home, why can’t zambia do the same? After all South Africa is beateble at home, Ghana did it during the last co-joined world cup/AFCOn qualifiers.Revenge is on the cards.
Viva Chipolopolo!