Friday, March 29, 2024

Cosafa Castle Cup final Update 1

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The Zambia national team arrived here in Bloemfontein this afternoon ahead of Wednesday’s Cosafa Castle Cup final match against South Africa.

Coach Patrick Phiri and his team flew into OR Tambo airport at 10:00hrs from Lusaka with a 12-man squad of home-based players that included Angolan based midfielder Felix Katongo of Petro Athletico.

Two South African based players joined the team in Johannesburg before the team embarked on a 3-hour bus ride to Bloemfontein.

The duo were strikers Noah Chivuta and James Chamanga of Wits and Moroka Swallows respectively.

Chamanga is late replacement for Kabwe Warriors striker Emmanuel Mayuka who was dropped after he failed to attend pre-departure training camp prior to playing for his club in the BP top 8 semifinal last Saturday .

“Warriors held on to Mayuka for the BP Top 8 and never got in touch with us over his whereabouts and he never even reported for training camp,” Zambia coach Patrick Phiri said.

Also left out of the team were Power Dynamos striker Elson Mukandawire and Red Arrows Under-20 defender Joseph Zimba.

Phiri is now expecting defenders Billy Mwanza and Joseph Musonda from Golden Arrows including Angolan based midfielder Ian Bakala.

18 players in total comprised the squad for Wednesday match.

The team was by going to press getting its first feel of the final venue Vodacom Park in a 19:00 hrs training session.

98 COMMENTS

  1. Hopefully we can win this match and maintain supremacy against unrepentant Bafana Bafana.
    Ghana 2008 will be interesting. I feel we as Zambia have a good squad with good players. So we will see what happens.

  2. Go Zambia Go! I think south Africa is experimeting on the the COSAFA CUP. The platyers they have are no classic when compared to the skilled Zambians. Good luck guys. “Uko muleya mwe bana besu mukalete icikombe.”We are ever behind you.I wish you well because am the number one Zambian soccer optimist.

  3. We are definitely winning this Wednesday. South Afica are our daily bread and butter. But come Ghana, aaah, we are yet to see. But I think we can make it to second round. I predict Cameroun and Zambia in the second round. Egypt and Sudan will be sent packing. My opinion.

  4. It is amazing how BB has kept a low profile on this final, they are not even talking about it i wonder if it will be screened on Tv.Could it be BB knows he will be embarassed so they would rather kill the hype about the game so that a defeat does not have an impact. All of a sudden South Africans are rugby fans and soccer is not a popular sport anymore. just because they won the rugby world cup .Chipololopolo boys do us proud once again, come and dampen the spirits of the Rugby euphoria

  5. What I have noticed is that SAFA and the soccer fans in general do not consider COSAFA cup important. To them, winning the cup is not a PLUS or losing it a MINUS. They even do not screen the COSAFA games on the local SABC channels. As it is now, the focus is on the Boks victory and I wont be surprised that Vodacom Park will be almost empty tomorrow. Whatever the case, victory for Zambia will be a great achievement considering that we beat BB a month ago. Good luck Chipolopolo lads.

  6. BafanaChiefs withdraw duo from Bafana squad
    22 October 2007 (12:00)

    Amakhosi coach Muhsin Ertugral has pulled out defender Moketi Tsotetsi and goalkeeper Itumeleng Khune from the Bafana Bafana squad for Wednesday’s Cosafa Cup final against Zambia in Bloemfontein.
    Ertugral said the decision to withdraw the two was as result of the current spate of injuries being suffered by Chiefs. He cited injuries to Chiefs defenders Jimmy Tau and Jonathan Quartey as the reason for him taking the decis

  7. Ideally bafana are supposed to be on top of the African continental soccer rankings considering the money pumped into their fotball and their football facilities. However, they do not have the players to play the game and even if they fire Carlos Alberto and replace him with Wenger, they can not go anywhere.

    We should embarass them one more time with a bagful of goals. Teti tubwelele panuma baSimukonda
    Teti tubwelele panuma baPhiri
    yapamakasa pamakasa yenu teti tubwele

  8. Respective of the results tomorrow the game that mattered was the last Afcon game we won 3-1.That game will for a long time haunt South Africa.The haven’t still gotten over it.Don’t quote me wrong tomorrow’s game is important but i feel it’s a game to look at the new players and build on to Afcon 2008.
    It’s a pity the young man E.Mayuka wont be playing i was impressed by his work rate when i watched him against Mozambique.I think the boy has alot to offer.He was the marksman that day and –

  9. # 11 continued
    N.Chivuta was playing just behind him as a supporting striker.When i look at the team playing tomorrow we don’t seem to have a total striker.No disrespect to the team i know the boys won’t disappoint us.Chamanga plays well behind a striker (Marksman).All the best to the boys tomorrow.

  10. The stadium will be empty and chances are the game wont be showed on TV.This is how the COSAFA cup is disregarded in RSA.This whole scenario is as a result of our country not being serious.FAZ should never agreed to play on a wednesday at night in Bloemfontein.After all is said done We should evaluate the value we get from this tournament or weather we should join the East and central Africa tournament, besides the COSAFA block voted against our man.We dont really need COSAFA

  11. #12 Sibs-RSA

    You have a point this game is important but not as important as the AFCON qualifier in which we anihilated Bafana in Cape Town. This game is good for player development and exposure as we drive towards developing a large pool of players for 2010 which, in my opinion, is the year in which our fruits are likely to be seen that is why I am not even reading too much into Ghana 2008.

    We can use Ghana 2008 to build an even stronger team for 2010. We should aim for the cup but for

  12. #14 ctd

    building a strong team and if we end up going further in the competition, it will be a bonus to us.

    The main aim should be to rub shoulders with the strongest teams in Africa and come out strong.

    What we have at the moment, as always, is potential and this is the appropriate time to nurture the potential and explode in 2010.

    Planning well can take us far. Lets not look at immediate gains rather focus on building a formidable side for the furture and we shall reap our fruits.

  13. Hey you bastards don’t be cheated this game is not important. It’s level of importance can not be underscored. We are 12 weeks from Ghana and you don’t see the importance. South Africans love it!!!And what the hell are you doing not watching pay channels. You lizard in diaspora!!! You know so much about SABC something and nothing about suppersport channels. Come home geli geli we are getting richer building our second houses in Chalala

    Lusberg

  14. Right on brother, that is why these bastards want to come back and be presidents!!! An immigrant? On my ass.. Aas for the Chipolopolo go hammer them bastards. They will proudly accept!

    Lsk

  15. #17, 18, 19 Spaare your abusive language you insultants , we not interested in your foul language. Make you point about soccer and do not expose your foul mouth here.

    #19 Find a life and lead it. You have absolutely no business asking me whether I work or not. It is absolutely non of your business.This is a soccer blog and make your point about soccer and do not get personal. Otherwise we all have the capacity to insult but it is so uncivilised. If you getting rich go on and enjoy your money.

  16. #17, 18, 19

    Imwe bafikala mwafumukwisa. Let bloggers continue with their discussions. Ngatamukwete ifwakuchita die and go to hell.

  17. #20. Kemps
    Congrats! Mature response to annoying comments. Let’s foget about ’em guys and continue what we know best on this blog: GIVING OUT THE DATA!!!

  18. Bafikala #17,18,19 continue building mansions ku Chalala and Misisi quietly. Respect other bloggers’ opinions. Bushe mulandu to stay in a foreign country? Mwanya mukala cula fye ifyofine.

  19. #22 Born Rich

    Cheers man.

    People do no understand that it is alright to differ in opinion but it does mean that anyone you do not agree with is stupid. That attitude is so so low in this age and era.

    Otherwise congrats Born Rich Kalampa is back and back to stay.

  20. Born Rich

    Where is strike Rovers? The only team that used to lend KK11 copper jerseys. In those days we had players like Born “Killer” Chanda, Morgan Chondoka, Kayipole

  21. # 17,18,19 you seem to be bitter about a lot of things.its no crime to be exposed in another country.Umwana ashenda……let those who are exposed be presidents since you are busy building mansions in chilala.Ba Don you dont even know where Kemp Mwape is from, you just think internet is only accesed at work , he could be at home relaxing and blogging….Time zones mate.

  22. Prof Watson was right when he said blacks are dull based on unpublished material he stole from the father of evolution Charles Darwin. Prof Watson case study was centred on Zambian POLOticians and he was flabbergasted when he saw Mpombo and Mulyata grovelling in dust (iye ine uluse) when welcoming Dr Chuchu at the airport of which none of the western politicians can do that. Further, more he shot pics of Dr Chuchu at the just ended UN meeting in NY dripping ilenda while dozing (iyee kwene twaseb

  23. #28 cont…

    Further, more he shot pics of Dr Chuchu at the just ended UN meeting in NY dripping ilenda while dozing (iyee kwene twasebana pafula). You MMD chaps, do you think HH, Nawakwi, and ba Sata can produce ilenda mwibungano? To be continued next week …

  24. #27 Nonhlanhla

    You are the man and keep it up.

    These guys are so bitter and always want to engage in a fight of some sort instaed of concentrating on enlarging their pool of mansions in which areas

  25. Ba Joze, In case you have forgotten, this is the sports page. You rearly find topics which have to do with His Execellency here!

    Kindly take the thread to the “top stories” page. I am sure the people interested will join you.

    If you want to stick around the sports page then stick to the DATA. I mean data iya mupila. You began well with Strike Rovers Data. I wonder who or what distructed you bring in His Excellency on this page.

    Come on. Give us the data. Not ifyama poloTICS.

  26. RN,thanks for reminder almost forgot.HAPPY BIRTHDAY ZAMBIA.We Prophesy Prosperity,Peace and Progress on the Mother Land.Go Chipolopolo.

  27. BB want to disdract the chipolopolo squad by claiming that they do not put much importance to the match.The truth of the matter is should BB win you definately hear the noise.They know that they canot provoke zambia with unnecesaarry threats.Deep down they know how desparately they need that win. Go chipolopolo

  28. Happy 43rd Independence anniversary Zed. Lets make it a perfect celebration by defending the COSAFA Cup. Lets stand together and we shall conquer. Impatila, Umufimbila,ubunkalwe no muchishachinani tefisuma iyo.

    Go Zambia Go

  29. FAZ has really let us down agreeing to play such an important game in Bloem at nite in the middle of the week.Most Zambians are based in pretoria and Johannesburg it will be extremely difficult for most of RSA based Zambians to watch the game as tomorrow most of them will have to be at work.It will be a hostile environment tomorrow at work places so late coming will not be tolerated by our South African employers.

  30. #39,i hear you brother man these bosses will eat us alive if we report late at work tomorrow after we thump BB 2-0.Jeff Windhoek is right on spot BB has been putting up a formidable team behind closed doors.Their line up can cause an upset if we are not careful.Chipolopolo boys we are behind you dont be disheartened by the lack of supporters in the field,ni ba FAZ ebalengele.

  31. Gentlemen I am grounded here in Johannesburg, was not able to get transport to Bloemfontein. Plus academic commitments will not allow me to leave. However, would just like to wish all the best to the boys, and to wish all Zambians at home and abroad a happy independence day. Celebrate hard and celebrate safely tonight after we bury those small boys. Zambia chalo chesu.

  32. RN. # 43. I read on BBC Sports that it is Thabo Mbeki who questioned the name and wanted it changed. SAFA (suffer)is just reacting to Thabo’s embarrasment. The name has no relevance to the country.

  33. Hello out there, is the game starting soon. can someone who will be watching give us a 10mins update during the game. We will appreciate the kindness.

  34. According Radio Phoenix, in the last 5mins before 1/2 time, the play was 75% to 25% in favour of Bafana Bafana. Goals: 0-0

  35. Half time in Bloemfontein. 0-0. Zambia enjoyed a good early spell, controlling possession. However by about 20mins gone, BB started to seize intiative and play more aggresively… Zambia looks decent in midfield, Ian Bakala playing holding role, and Rainford Kalaba looking good whenevver he is on the ball. Joseph Musonda is in good shape from left back, and WIlly Chinyama has been marshalling all South African attacks down the right flank.

  36. However we are blunt upfront. The Chivuta/Chamanga combination is ineffective. Chivuta is playing too deep. No shots on goal as yet for Zambia! the pace of the game is very slow, unbefitting of a cup final.
    Felix Katongo has been rather quiet but at the back Mwanza/Nkethani are maintining composure. The momentum seems to be with Bafana. They were able to hit the crossbar from a free Kick. We are currently unable to penetrate.

    #55 is from me [Nkandu]

  37. Kennedy Mweene
    William Chinyama
    Joseph Musonda
    Kennedy Nketani
    Billy Mwanza
    Ian Bakala
    Felix Katongo
    Rainford Kalaba
    Noah Chivuta
    James Chamanga
    I cannot recall who the number 11 is.

  38. Iam listening to Radion Pheonix but they are not giving regular updates. I hope the boys beat South Africa to prove te fact that Patrick Phiri’s master mind of the 3-1 afcon bashing last month was no fluke but pure genious

  39. Its 0 – 0 at full time. I am not sure if they play extra time or they go straight to penalty shoot out. Source: SABCnews.com

  40. An unispiring 2nd half performance from Zambia… we actually deserved to lose by 2 or 3 goals. Rare moments of brilliance from Kalaba after he moved to the right wing after Chivuta was replaced. Other than that, we had no focus, no desire, no gameplan. Kalaba took first and was saved my Moeneeb Josephs. Mweene saved the next spot kick. The next kicks were converted, only for Chamanga to sky his unbalanced shot over the bar. Credit goes to Bakala for having a good game in the middle

  41. Continued…

    Mweene saved Zambia for dissapointment with a number of key saves. Other players were dissapointing, I sahll not wst e my time. I have an assignment due tomorrow. Good night!

  42. Despite the 4-3 loss to SA, that doesnt mean that we are not better than them. Football has three possible results; win, draw and lose.

  43. To the guys across the Antlatic and Indian O,Zambia lost the game upfront.Defence and Midfield we did very well.Bakala and Kalaba in the middle did a good. K.Mweene,K.Nhetani, Capt B.Mwanza,J.Musonda, W.Chimyama in defence were superb. Before the game i said that we didn’t have a Striker(Pointman) in the team.E.Mayuka did well in that position when we played Mozambique.I said Chamanga and N.Chivuta play well behind a Striker.Half time ball possession was 50%-50%,Shots at goal S.Africa 9 of which

  44. Cont # 71, 5 were on Target.Zambia half-time, 1 shot at goal,0 shot on Target.Positives for Zambia from this game is that our defense seems to be good and the Midfield with I.Chansa,A.Sinkala can even be better.Our strike force at the moment with out C.Katongo, C.Mbesuma, and J.Mulenga will struggle.We need at least one player who can fill in case one of these guys is injured.Maybe guys on the blog you can advice. E.Mayuka.R.Kolala or maybe a player from U-23.Born Rich back in Zed advise us bro?

  45. Lastly Rainford Kalaba was voted the Man of the Match.Though he came out with a yellow card after a hard taclke.The boy was brilliant on the Right side of the Midfield.He gave the South Africans a bit of headache especially in the second half.N.Chivuta and J.Chamanga very ineffective upfront.Maybe the were played out of possession.A big up to the boys though the tried playing away from home just to lode on penalties.At least we don’t have lame excuses like the S.Africans when the lost 3-1.

  46. I think zed performed well in the first half,coz they were holding the BB.The medified and defence did it’s job but the striking force was blunt and uncreative.pelnaties are a gamble and could go either way.we need to intesify preparations for ghana

  47. We lacked zeal in the that game thats why we lost, our strike force was weak. nothing in them showed that they wanted to win the game, very disappointing indeed as we prepare for CAN 2008. As a team we know that even we we have our very best strikers, we don’t have the fire power. Somethings needs to be done before the Africa cup kicks of in Ghana.

    All the best as we prepare for the Africa cup of nations.

  48. This time Patrick Phiri got it wrong on team selection and positions. But we all make mistakes and this does not make phiri a bad coach.

    Team analysis

    Goalkeeping – well selected and well performed

    Defence- well selected and special mention here shoild go to William Chinyama who played like a seasoned defender. His future looks bright and Hachilensa must be scared. Overall the defence was tight although it can do better

    Midfield- In my opinion the midfield defended more than it

  49. #77 ctd

    attacked because the did not have a defensive midfielder and that is why the strike force looked ordinary. In my opinion Phiri should have played Francis Kasonde to marshall the midfield and let loose Kalaba, Bakala and Katongo into attack the complexion of the game could have been different. Here and exactly here is where we lost it becuase we never threatened and I do not how you expect to without attacking the opposition.

    Strike Force-The situation in the midfield rendered the

  50. #78 ctd

    strike force effective.

    I was surprised to see Kalaba doing more of defending than attacking and got yellow carded in the process.

    May Phiri wanted to defend and catch bafana on the break but signs were there early enough to adjust the plan.

    We got it wrong on the Bench but that is soccer for you. We have to forge ahead and prepare for Ghana.

  51. Kemps i agree with you Kalaba and Bakala were a bit defensive.R.Kalaba is more danderous when he attacks.We saws a bit of that in the second half when he caused havoc on the right.We seriously need friendly games before Ghana were Phiri can have the whole team at his disposal.Let’s play good teams were we can gauge ourselves not jst any friendly game.A Team Nambia has been able to play Morroco already.the will be soon be playing Saudi Arabia who beat Ghana 4-1 about two weeks ago.

  52. Kemps i agree with you Kalaba and Bakala were a bit defensive.R.Kalaba is more dangerous when he attacks.We saw a bit of that in the second half when he caused havoc on the right.We seriously need friendly games before Ghana were Phiri can have the whole team at his disposal.Let’s play good teams were we can gauge ourselves not jst any friendly game.A Team like Namibia has been able to play Morroco already.the will be soon be playing Saudi Arabia who beat Ghana 4-1 about two weeks ago.

  53. Hey this game was a big bore. If this is the calibre of soccer Southern Africa will take to the Nations Cup finals then there’s no hope of bringing the cup to the region. I have watched Zambian Division two games that were more entertaining. These two teams played chipantepante. Defence was just about kicking the ball away from the goal area. Ball retention was unknown. Both teams had poor ball control; only Kalaba and the guy in dreadlocks showed some ball control skills.

  54. Bane let us be proud as Zedians, we beat SA when it mattered. We shall do the same at AFCON. COSAFA is no longer anything, same teams all the time. At AFCON we will measure our standards Vs the best. As I said earlier on I am not shaken a second by our draw (0-0), Vs SA. It shows we have a good Keeper in Mweene, good defenders in Nketani, Billy, Chinyama and Mwanza plus Chintu, these plus Chris, Mulenga Jacob, Mbesuma, Sinkala, Isaac Chansa and maybe Sichone and Tana, we stand a better team

  55. As for BB, babys born now, they will gone home after the first round after being kicked out, I can say it now SA stand no chance at AFCON and for Mr. Brazil, he already knows he will be fired, cause the piece of cake he is getting is too much comparred to the SA talent. Their is nothing in SA except Mandela, but with all respect he is just like Kapwepwe, chpwa, who ever wants antuke nalanda bane. All true soccer fans of ZEd soccer forget about ka capono cup ka mu laiti, wait and see kun AFCON

  56. No Justice South Africa is the wrong team to use to assess our defence. They have no strikers. Their league is currently dying to have strikers.Chris Katongo left South Africa halfway thru the league and still won the top scorer award. It means they are pathetic. Being proud about beating South Africa is reducing the game to just grudges. Dont let soccer be about beating South Africa. It must be about winning trophies. By the way COSAFA has a big prize money that compares with the Nations Cup

  57. Soccer Fan No.2 # 86.I feel if a defense can hold Benny McCarthy who was the second best goal scorer in England it deserves credit.McCarthy had a well oiled Midfield that day but he was kept at bay.Whiles i agree that the are better teams in Africa with a stronger offense than South Africa.But lets wait and see though i feel this defense deserves credit. Its the same defense that played in that Afcon qualifier except W.Chinyama.Our defense and goalkeeper are the only guys having much practice.

  58. Cont # 87.I believe the have an understanding of each other.If i was the coach i would keep the same defense that played S.A in the Afcon qualifier and only include Moses Sichone as a defensive Mid-fielder/Holding Midfielder.

  59. #84 Justice

    I agree with you almost entirely. As much as COSAFA may important in the region, I do not think it can be compared to the mother of all soccer competitions in Africa (AFCON).

    Like I said earlier, after we drew against Chad almost every was skeptical about us going to Ghana for the biannual event but to the surprise of the continent anf the rest we harmed Bafana and qualified.

    To me that was more important than winning COSAFA because we have the chance to meet the stongest

  60. #89 ctd
    teams in Africa. We have already shown that we can dominate the Southern Region. That is why we are the highest FIFA ranked team in Southern Africa at #11 and #60 in the world followed by Angola. BB is #17 in Africa and #83 in the World. These are the latest FIFA rankings released on Oct 24 when BB won the CUP which is not recognised by FIFA

    We there need to conquer Africa. We have nothing to prove in this region because we are simply the best according to FIFA and not SAFA OR COSAFA

  61. Why are Zambians so obsessed with South Africa? They should focus on winning the Nations cup not on how far ahead they are of South Africa in rankings. Sour grapes?

  62. Good comments kemps and keep it up. As for Soccer fan no 2 who happens to be a SA, just what is your problem?? South Africa, what is SA without the name “ZAMBIA” and KK being mentioned. I know many SA here i DK, and they respect ZAMBIANS, so much that u would’ t beleive it. Anyway umwina zed muntu, no musungu ala tina, chapwa Soccer wise Zed twa yamba kale mune,check the history. Sour grapes, yes those grown in SA. Zambian soccer is on the right path. U20/23, Senior team performances say it all.

  63. #91 It is not obsession but facts. South Africans are our major competitor in the region and we should analyse them to check our position. If we are doing better them then we are dominating in the region. Does it make sense bwana? and you call the obession my word you need to revisit the dictionary for guidance.There is nothing to obsessed abot South Africa but they are our competitors in the region. Heard of competitor analysis? #91 Unfortunately you donot qualify to dictate my thinking. Abash

  64. Nonsense Justice I am not a South African. I am very much a Zambian. And as a Zambian I think its a lot of crap to focus on South Africa. The focus means we envy their achievements. Napachitente if you focus on your neighbour you will go nowhere. Focus on your own ambitions. We seee these things everyday in our lives

  65. Ba Kemps lisukulunshi mwaileko? Tamwaishiba na grammar elyo mulenjeba ati ndeya ku dictionary. Na Competitor analysis mulevoka you have a wrong interpretationmof it. Competitor analysis? Angola is ranked higher than South Africa so why dont you focus on them. Ma grudges fye mwakwata like I said ni sour grapes.

  66. #95 You have won and continue picking fights with others because I dont want to engage in arguments which are not beneficial even to you.Pick on other bloggers. They may just be interested in exchanging information on non-issues.I talk soccer and not personalities. My education which, by the way, is of high quality and the best you can ever get in Zambia is my business and yours. Go on and fight with others because you seem to be frustrated about a lot of things in life but its not my fault.

  67. #95 You have won and continue picking fights with others because I dont want to engage in arguments which are not beneficial even to you.Pick on other bloggers. They may be interested in exchanging information on non-issues.I talk soccer and not personalities. My education which, by the way, is of high quality and the best you can ever get in Zambia is my business and not yours. Go on and fight with others because you seem to be frustrated about a lot of things in life but its not my fault.

  68. Les barea de madagascar is better! go barea ! go barea; in 1/é2 final! your bafana bafana will have a big … go barea

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