Patrick Phiri and Figthton Simukonda will lead Zambia to the Africa Cup finals in Ghana.
Minister of sports Gabriel Namulambe disclosed this morning at a press briefing that Phiri and his assistant Simukonda contracts extended by 3 months.
Phiri and Simukonda’s contracts are due to end in December and have now been extended to the end of March 2008.
The announcement ends months of speculation over Phiri’s future at the helm.
This is after riding the pressure to oversee Zambia’s dramatic qualification to the Africa Cup with a 3-1 win over South Africa in their crucial final group B match in Cape Town on September 9.
Phiri’ s trip to Ghana will mark an emotional return to the land where he made his Africa Cup debut as a player in 1978.
Phiri will also be at the helm of his first Africa Cup-bound team after failing to guide Zambia to qualify for the 2004 event in Tunisia.
Meanwhile, Zambia leave for Bloemfontein on Monday at 07:30 hrs ahead of their Wednesday Cosafa Castle Cup final match against South Africa.
Zambia are the Cosafa Castle Cup defending champions of the tournament after beating Angola 2-0 to join the latter as the tournaments three-time champions.
Goalkeepers: Kennedy Mweene (Free State Stars, south Africa), Mike Poto (Green Buffaloes).
Defenders: William Chinyama (Zesco United),Kampamba Chintu (Free State Stars, South Africa), Clive Hachilensa (Mariehamn,Finland), Billy Mwanza, Joseph Musonda (Both Lomtville Golden Arrows), Kennedy Nkethani (Zanaco), Joseph Zimba (Red Arrows).
Midfielders: Ian Bakala (Primeiro de Agosto, Angola), Felix Katongo (Petro Atletico, Angola), Allan Mukuka (Mufulira Wanderers), Francis Kasonde, Kennedy Mudenda (Both Power Dynamos), Kruger Mwansa (Red Arrows), Sebastein Mwansa (Green Buffaloes), Stophira Nsunzu (Konkola Blades), William Njovu (Lusaka Dynamos).
Forwards: Noah Chivuta (Wits University, South Africa), Elson Mukandawire (Power Dynamos), Emmanuel Mayuka (Kabwe Warriors).
BP TOP 8 SEMIFINAL
20/10/2007
Nkoloma Stadium, Lusaka
Kabwe Warriors-Zanaco
Nchanga Stadium, Chingola
Konkola Blades-Nakambala Leopards
I would like to believe that that is the consensus of the everybody. Zambians always have a tendency to praise when things go well and to vehemently condemn when they do not. The recent victory in RSA is one example. We are quick to change positions! I hope we shall stand to support Patrick and Fighton all the way. I wish them the best and pray for their success.
The africa cup draws have been conducted and Zambia is in group C.
Egypt
Sudan
Zambia
Cameroon
I think we can finish top of this group if we start the preps now from the word go. Egypt and Camerron had struggled in the qualifeirs. I think they are beatable with the crop of players that we have. Becareul with the darfor boys(Sudan)They can pull a up a suprise. Phiri has been with the plaers and knows them well. Go Zambia and Prove your soccer prowess. VIVA Zambia!!Go Zambia!!
I agree Zambia can top this group. Egypt is not strong and Cameroon are fading.I believe Sudan were lucky to qualify becasue their group was weak.Fine they had Tunisia but the other two teams were walk overs. Zambia came through a much harder group than Sudan, Cameroon and Egypt. While we were slaughtering Bafana Egypt couly only manage to beat minnows Botswana by a lone goal. We also had Congo in our group.
I propose that Faz carries out the following programme to prepare for the nations cup
1. A friendly against Algeria would be highly appropriate. Firstly, we have been drawn with Egypt who are North Africans. Secondly, Algeria is the strongest possible nation that has failed to qualify that we can play. It makes them an easy target for a friendly because they are willing to play anyone.
2. A friendly against Mali.They too could be available.
3.A friendly against Senegal.
4.A camp in Gambia
Don’t play friendlies with teams like Tanzania, Namibia……. It will be a waste of time and resources. Go to the north and west of Africa.
This draw is fair. On paper Egypt and Cameroon are favourites but I think that Sudan and Zambia will cause a surprise or 2.
This group is good for Zambia and Patrick is the right man at this time to take the team to the Africa Cup and then if need arises we will need an expatrite coach but as for now its only him that is credible.
I think with the right preparations and incentives, we can go far.
What a blessed nation!!! Zambia is a great nation. we are rising from the ashes and cause upsets. God bless Zambia.
Zambia, FEAR NOT. GO GO ZAMBIA !!! Mr Justice, I will send an e-mail to you tomorrow.
Do that Hilary cause we now have a lot to discuss. I am planning a trip to Ghana, it is not so expensive from here, I will be there no matter what.
Chris Katongo displayed som dazzling perfomances during BIF’s training this week. He scored a lot of goals and looks a starter for BIF in this evenings game Vs second from bottom AGF (Aarhus Grænge and Football Club). There is kickoff at 18:00 hours and the game is live on TV2 Sport. Minewhile Mbesuma and his Turkish club were yesterday beaten 2-0 by a lowly placed side, that has since moved places above Mbesuma’s. Mbesuma’s club 9 games, 1 win, 4 draws and 4 losses. Mbesuma 0 goals
James Chamanga, too played so well and scored a winner in Moroka Swallows’ 1-0 win over Black leopards. You could see the hunger, the knack for goals from the boy. I have always called upon the coache to include him in the nationl team. Am sure our contributions are heard. Well done FAZ for extending Pat and Simukinda’s contract to next year. Congrats too to PP and simukonda for recalling chamanga, we need the boy even for AFCON.The competetition for places in the national team is getting hotter
# 11, Justice, I have seen from the BBC, sports that Brondby won 2-1. what is the problem with Katongo not scoring, yet he scores in trainings? Any reason justice?
I still maintain the coaches are not yet the kind of stuff we need at this level. We dont want to be going to these tournaments to be also-rans who leave after the first round. Zambia needs to go to the finals with the aim of winning the cup not ati “iyoo but twaliesha” Mwakulaeshafye lyonse imyaka 50 yapita tamuwina. isn’t there a sense of pride in Zambia? Without pride you are unlikely to succeed. I have always maintained take Phiri for a course so he can come back and prepare Zambia for 2010.
Its just logical that Patrick Phiri and Fighton Simukonda continues to the AFCON 2008 because they worked hard to earn that chance. Its a hard earned achievement when most fans had lost hope these guys revived our hopelessness.
Guys fight on, this is your chance no one should deny it from you
Lets go ba Patrick Phiri. As for the CAN 2008, Zambia will need to address the following.
1.Kalu and the others who wanted an expartriate coach should not put spanners in the teams preps. It is likely that they may want to impose players and game plans on the coach.
2. We need to have our tactics and players right during CAN 2008. Being too predicatble will lose us the game. In that regard, we need to have a balanced team with atleast two players for each position.
Part II later
Justice how you doing,you been quiet.How did Chris fair last weekend?