Zambia national team striker Christopher Katongo has joined the Zambia national team at the squads pre-Africa Cup training camp in Lusaka.
And defender Elijah Tana of Sudanese club El Merriekh is said to have arrived in the country today.
Katongo, of Brondby in Denmark, is the first high-profile foreign based Zambia national team player based in Europe to join the team.
The striker took part in the teams second week of training that began today at BOZ Sports Complex.
Also in camp are the three Zesco United trio of midfielder Rainford Kalaba plus defenders Rogers Kamwandi and William Chinyama after attending to their Mosi Cup final commitments on Saturday.
Meanwhile, Tana’s arrival has been confirmed by team manager Solly Pandor although the veteran defender and captain has yet to report to camp.
And Patrick Phiri is set to name Zambia’s final 23-man team by December 23.
However, it is unclear whether South African-based striker James Chamanga will be called up for training camp or make the cut without attending training camp.
Chamanga is currently enjoying a sudden goal streak over the last week with eight goals in three successive matches since joining Moroka Swallows in August.
And Phiri revealed today that Zambia’s proposed friendly against Angola planned for Portugal has yet to be confirmed.
Zambia has three confirmed pre-Africa Cup away warm-up games.
The first will be against the Andalusia Regional team in Jerez, Spain on December 27 and Tunisia on January 6 including Morocco six days later.
the team looks good but PP must include Chamanga in the team. the boy is better than Mbesuma at the moment.I read a SA paper on line and said SA is just producing deadly striskers for Zambia the likes of Denis Lota,Mbesuma,Katongo and now Chamanga (nick name kindoo). The boy is now top scorer.
It true Joz, PP must include Chamanga in the team, he has striking potential at the moment looking from the way he is scoring. I think ba PP should not hesitate to include him. Surely he’s better Mbesuma. The latter does not run, he is too fat! Too much misosi men in his body. He only rotates on the pitch. In fact that was the mistake Kalu made, leaving him when he was not doing anything!!!! Please ba Put Chamanga the you can be substituting him with Mbesu. Ba Mbesu is not delivering!!!!!
Who is this player in the picture?
Emmanuel Mayuka.
We need Chamanga in the team.Do we monitor the pros in Angola?I feel the league there in not as competitive as ours coz Felix,Adubelo and Ian are not as good as they used to be in Zambia!!Team selection requires consultations though the coach has a final say.We need to be careful coz Mbesuma just recoverd recently and he has not played enough to regain his fittness.I feel Marks Sinyangwe is needed to assist in the midfield coz he is experienced.
James “King of goals” Chamanga scored a second goal against Amazulu on Sunday. The goal was a beauty to watch. He is top scorer with 10 goals. I think he needs to be considered.
YES WE NEED CHAMANGA BUT HOW DO YOU GET THIS TO THE COACH SINCE HE HAS THE FINAL SAY.I HOPE HE WONT BE LIKE KAUMBA ‘S REACTION WHEN KALABA AND CLIFFORD WERE NEEDED FOR IVORY COST’S GAME
According to reports, PP is still monitoring Chamanga’s performance. I do not know for how long he will do this because the SA league is going on recess this weekend till after AFCON 2008. Why can’t he call the lad now and assess his form while in camp?? We do not need tourists to go to Ghana but players.
Phiri considers Chamanga
By Daily Mail
NATIONAL team coach Patrick Phiri will consider hot-shot striker James Chamanga when he names his final 22-man squad that will represent Zambia at the 2008 African Nations Cup in Ghana.
“Football is all about goals and James is now scoring. We dropped him last time because he had lost form and he was not scoring.
“Now, there is no way we can ignore him,” Phiri said in Lusaka yesterday as he also announced that Tunisia-based towering stri
Owen Mwendabai has been given a chance to prove his worth.
Phiri said his aim was to get the best players available and there was more proof than needed to show that Chamanga deserved consideration in the final squad.
“James has been an integral member of the team and we need his experience at a tournament like the Africa Cup.
We’re naming our final team on Friday and we’ll surely consider him,” Phiri said.
Chamanga has been the beating heart of Moroka Swallows of South Africa where
Yes, Drop FAT Boy Mbesuma and bring in Chamanga. Mbesuma is not performing for his new team and you can’t take a play to AFCON who is always on the bench. Mistake made by Kalu at the last AFCON. Drop FAT BOY Mbesuma and only bring him in when he starts scoring goals
I agree with you about dropping the likes of mbesuma.he lacks match practice and his scoring confidence is at an all time low. Let’s be real guys. We need the sharpest strikers out there.its not just that these players have to have a history.chamanga is hot. Let’s use him. During camp players should undergo match fitness assessment to earn their place.we have many options.pp has to include chamanga.
Why not bring Mbesuma in asses him in Camp.Mind you, may be the Coach at his club is just ignoring him.Raul Gonzales was said to have been past his best by Spain but when called to the team the man still scored goals for the National team.Some players might not gel at their club but will do it at National level.Lets give the guy an opportunity hes more experienced than some players up front.
Good graphics LT but would you please write comments & identifications on all pictures? Thanks for the good work though.
Please PP listen to the funs. Include Chamanga in the team now and give him enough time time to train with others. Don’t call at the 11th hour for you to make him a misfit in your team.
Yah i like the new look on L.T. keep it up.
EVE-thanks for the feed on the chamanga cry, i also know little about owen mwendabai? what position does the boy play most.i mean is he a striker or what?IF pp can hear us cry then he must be a wided minded coach who knows what is good for country un like the one we know
PP plse include chamanga
And defender Elijah Tana of Sudanese club El Merriekh is said to have arrived in the country today.when i was drinking with Tana at chingola Arts society.ubufi ba lusaka times