A CONFIDENT
Speaking shortly before departure at the Lusaka International airport yesterday, coach, Patrick Phiri, said Tana who left camp on Saturday travelled to the Copperbelt and did not return on Monday as scheduled but assured that he would be in before the team’s departure for Spain.
“We don’t know what’s happening to Tana,” Phiri said.
Phiri who could not state whether the defence kingpin would join the squad or not said all the other players were okay and that the Europe-based quartet of Collins Mbesuma, Jacob Mulenga, Andrew Sinkala and Moses Sichone were also doubtful for the
He said Mbesuma of Turkish side Bursaspor and Mulenga of French Ligue 1 side RC Strasbourg were scheduled to join the squad later this week while the Germany-based duo of Sichone and Sinkala were still recovering and would go for review next week before joining their colleagues.
Skipper, Chris Katongo, called on his teammates to work hard and repay the faith 12 million Zambians had bestowed on the 23 men that will represent
Katongo said football had shown in the past that it was a game of surprises some of which come when giants like
South Africa-based defender, Billy Mwanza, said he could not wait to frustrate
Ian Bakala, Felix Katongo and Adubelo Phiri all of whom ply their trade in the Angolan Gira Bola league want to show Zambians who are not privy to their league games that there was still a lot of football in them
Zanaco defender, Kennedy Nketani, is optimistic the Chipolopolo would perform well despite being grouped alongside champions Egypt, former holders Cameroon and the resurgent Sudan, recently crowned CECAFA champions.
Nketani said all the players needed to put in above 100 per cent commitment in order to overcome the giants of the continent, saying treating
Debutant, William Njobvu, 20, said for him it was an honour to make the squad for such an important tournament like the Africa Cup and that his aim was to prove that he is worthy of his place in the team.
The Lusaka Dynamos midfielder, who together with Emmanuel Mayuka have been elevated from the under-20 squad, said the coaching staff had seen the importance of blending young talent and the experienced old guards for continuity.
Another first timer William Chinyama is hoping to help the squad win games adding that the biennial championship would be the best stage for him to net his first goal for both club and country.
Chinyama who plays for FAZ/KCM league champions, Zesco United said every player in the squad was aware of the task that lay ahead and the reaction the players expected from the fans should
His defence partner Hichani Himoonde said the defence that has been selected was rock solid enough to stop even the top strikers in the business and that the fact that all the players were the most instrumental at their respective clubs was an added bonus.
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This is the result of hero-worshipping players by FAZ. FAZ should pay the price for Tana’s behavoir. The player would not even be punished by FAZ because its them who caused this behavoir by some players. Look at the way Mbesuma behaves when he is called for national duty. Insteady of going back to his base, he always goes to Luanshya to drink Chibuku after the match. Later on, he is late to go back to his clubs. FAZ has not done anything about all this bad behavior. Tana knew all the travel
cont… arrangements, but decided to go and do his personal matters. What a let down by FAZ, it’s high time woke up from the slumber and gave these players heavy punishments and fines. Tana should be punished and fined, and if he does not abide, let FAZ ban him for life and withdraw him from his professional stint. I wonder if FAZ has a say in players when they go out to play profesiional football. FAZ should have rights in these players when they acquire professional contracts outside Zambia,
cont.. like it is in Argentina and many other countries in professional sports. But knowing the way FAZ acts, Tana will be as free as tortoise in the jungle. Tana, your behavior is very unprofessional. DO you think Tana can behave like this at his club in Sudan? He knows the heavy consequencies he would get. What a shame to FAZ, Tana, and his Sudanese club!!!
This behavier of Tana there is no one else to blame but the FAZ.I don’t know wether the FAZ knows that it is them to control the players and not players controlling them. FAZ you should know that you are not going to fired by controlling players. No player will fire you off by telling them the right way to behave
One can’t blame Faz if a player misbehaves. E.Tana should have just come out in the open and said, i have a family problem that i am sorting out.Rather than promise that he will make the team to Spain.He is the Senior most player in the current team and he should lead by example.We just hope he’s sorted his issues and will join the friends next week as promised.
yes we can not tolarate such behavoiur but if the tana has problems and i think it would be a good idea if he had to sort them out before he makes it to ghana other wise u might agree that his concetration will be divided if he does not sort his family issues.it is best he sorts them out because well need a 110 % of his conceration especially when it is against Eto and the like.However displine is the basic key to success
GO CHIPOLOPOLO GO
Kalembe Unfortunatley FAZ do not have the power to withdraw anyone from his professional stint. Nor can they ban him for life. He could probably be banned from the national team but his professional stint is personal.
Last Updated: Thursday, 27 December 2007, 11:35 GMT
Zambia’s Chansa eyes semi-finals
Isaac Chansa says Zambia can reach the Nations Cup semi-finals
Zambia midfielder Isaac Chansa says his team can make it to the semi-finals of next month’s African Cup of Nations in Ghana.
Chansa, who plays for Swedish club Helsingborgs, is optimistic of the Chipolopolo’s chances despite being in a tough looking Group C alongside Cameroon, Sudan a
Dear Patrick Phiri
You have a team brimming with confidence. That lessens your work alittle. From the first match in Ghana make this team believe they are the next champions. They come from a country with abundant footballing skills. These skills are to be showcased by the eleven Zambians that will be taking the field. They should have nothing to fear. There is no team in Africa that Zambia has met and never beaten before. We can beat Cameroun, We can beat Sudan we can beat Ghana.
We are not going there to take part. We are going to win the cup. The players must see themselves as history makers. The crowd s might be hostile, especially when the team progresses to the knockout stage and they meet the host nation but the boys should not pay any attention. Its eleven against eleven and Zambia at present has some of the best undiscovered talent in Africa. The boys must play to prove that they are better than anyone playing in Europe or anywhere. Lets focus on the first match.
Lets focus on the first match. Cameroun must be handed the first shock. Give them a beating to shame them and we shall be on our way to etching our name on the cup. Patrick you have the players that can give the likes of Cameroun a shock. You have very confident players and all they need is your tactical skills on the touchline. Viva Chipolopolo!
Hi guys, good comments about baTana etc.
I am so excited about CAN, I am counting down the milli-seconds until we kick off!! However, having looked at the squad sheet I am a bit concerned about our midfield. In Egypt they were the department that really let us down, apart from a real lack of fitness the size of the guys meant they were easily bullied off the ball. Looking at our squad this time round, I am scared that the same thing might happen. We have nobody with a physical presence in
midfield and it could cost us. For all the brilliance of Rainford, if he comes up against one of our foo foo eating cousins from West Africa it is going to be tough for the boy. I am fully for including youth, if not to play then to give some experience. I would have thought about taking Stopira Sunzu and given him a run out in the warm-up/Cosafa games. The boy is a good player and at 6’3″ he has a physical presence.
Why is it that the current players like TANA want to take the nation at ransom?Did we ever have such nonsense from our true LEGENDS like Godfrey Chitalu,Zoom Ndhlovu,Willie Phiri,Efford Chabala,Micheal Musonda,Jack Chanda and the list is too long for such limited space.
Whatever differences TANA might have with FAZ should not superceed national interest.
Is the captains armband so important to TANA than serving the nation through soccer?
guys, i fully agree with all your views. As a fellow fanatical follower of abena chipolopolo, i share your concerns. In my opinion Tana has not acted out of turn in coming out with a family problem that needs dealng with. Guys, everyone of us know how family problems come out of the woodwork when we get back home for a short holiday. These guys are human too. They spend long periods away from family and stuff like this is bound to happen. Lets be fair.
I also want to voice concern that we have only two goal keepers at such a big tournament! if one of our guys were to be injured or fall sick, we put ourselves at enormous risk. please note that most of our opponents have taken the wise route of taking three keepers. Why leave our last line of defence wanting. i feel its better to have the best defence and midfield, and have a couple of very potent strikers.Am i being too paranoid?
my concern is also in the midfield,in our first gama chansa will not be there becoz of suspension,bakala is not 90 minutes reliabla but good enough,i would like to know in the absence of chansa and sinkala who would marshall this department?times of zambia say sinkala has malaria and yet the post say that he has a chest infection which one is true?should sinkala be given time to recover just like appaih of ghana has been given atleast up to the 10 of jan or what?
Sichone has not really been there for the team most of the times we have played and the like of nketani and mwanza,chintu,chiyama have really done well therefore if sichone is not fully fit perhaps it would be a good idea to go back and shop frm the u-23 for medifield re-inforcement coz beleive you me zambia usually tend to win matches if that day the midfield performs well.Once our midfield is solid im sure we will not be beaten easily,we shall actually suprise Egpty and cameroun
Lets rally behind the boys. Go Chipolopolo Go
For the first time I feel like we can go up to the finals. I dont know where all this confindence is coming from. But I feel we can do it. Nothing is impossible. I believe victory is in the mind. If you believe it, then you can do it.
We should not be intimidated by big names playing in big European teams. All we have to do is play as a team.
I will give an example, the current Nigerian team has players with good individual skills but do not play collective football like the team in the 90’s which comprised of Finnidi, Yekini, Oliseh, Amokachi, Amunike etc. Likewise when we reached the finals in 94, we only had one big name, Kalu. But we played as a team and went up to the finals. I hope the 3 friendlies will give the
Ctd.. the coaching staff an insight as to what to expect in Ghana. I like Isaac Chansa’s spirit. This is what we want. Good luck Zambia.
Whisper #13 i hear you we need size in the team especially the Midfield.Thats why we need to pray that M.Sichone recovers cos we need him in a defensive midfield role his got size and his physical.Isaac Chansa is a highly competitive player and physical though not very big,we will miss him against Sudan.Francis Kasonde is about 6’3″ though not very experienced i watched against Mozambique Cosafa semifinal he did very well.Up front we have good size is J.Mulenga,C.Mbesuma and super fit C.Katongo.
Contd… Its true our Fufu eating friends from the West of Africa are huge,talk about the 6’4″ Yaya Toure,6’5″ Bouba Diop etc.I don’t have so much worry with the front line its the midfield that worries me if A.Sinkala and M.Sichone wont pitch cos of illnesses.The defense is not bad and the goalkeeper(Mweene) is good hes one of our most improved players.
GO CHIPOLOPOLO!
Viva Chipolopolo.
Gentlemen please is it true that coach Benny Bamfuchile is dead?? Please someone from home confirm.I just read this on Bbc is it true?
Just made a few phone calls ,it’s true the Coach passed away last night about 10:30 in the night.Just spoke to someone in the family.Sad day for Zambian football again.He was one of our best Coaches in Zambia my condolences to the family.Just before a big tournament this happens just like before a big game with S.Africa we lost Chanswe Nsonfwa.
Hi Guys,
Yes one of our best coaches, Ben Bamfuchile died last night, MHSRIP.
What a sad day for Zambia because we lost 4-1 to the Andalucia select side last night too! Having scored first through Chris Katongo we then lost control of the match and conceded 4 goals, the last being a penalty right at the end of the match.
Continuing the discussion from above, I would like to have seen a bit more of Francis Kasonde. Re: Sinkala in midfield, I very much doubt PP would utilise the man
The death of Ben is a big loss to the nation. Ben was a high achiever, dedicated professional, true patriot and delivered results.
My condolences to his family.
in that position. I think he will put Sichone at the back, but I don’t think that is a good idea as the defence need to know each other and by putting a new face in there might upset the balance. I would possibly forget about Moses and go with one of the locally based players such as Kasonde or Sunzu to give that physical presence in mid.
Btw. we played 4-4-2 last night: Mweeine; Hachilensa, Nketani, Musonda, Mwanza, Kalaba, Félix Katongo, Kabala, Christopher Katongo, Chamanga
ya! guys thanks for letting us know about Ben BAMFUCHILE’s death. what a shock. my condolences to his family and those of you that knew him personally. We have yet again been robbed of a superb coaching talent. MHSRIP.
God be with you all (National team players)in this period of preparation till the actual games.
You will not do anything positive if God is not involved in perfecting your fitness. Use Philipians 4:13,”I can do all things through christ who strengthens me.”Be dedicated as a Zambian player to put your name on Africa’s most feared football icons.In your life,you can only use this competition to prove that you are splendid.Work hard as a player.Die a little for your country.
Zambia we have been underdogs for too long.Coach,it is not God who call us underdogs.We are a great team in the eyes of God.
Go Chipolopolo, and show the world that you are not what people might call you to be,but whom God calls and knows us to be.We are Zambians,the most likly team to win 2008 African Cup of Nations.
Phiri,this is the time you can use to make every player feel they can also make it as big names in Africa.
Team,God will always be with you.Give him room and let us not go for fights on the pitch.Players,contral your tampers(Isaac),this might cause the whole country to suffer.
God bless you all.
Patrick,you should not have an experiment of players in every match.Came up with a team now which will help build co-ordinanation and team spirit.We will not want tryalls during the games.Work on the players(team) that played against South Africa when we beat them 3 – 1 .
During our preps we can go down,but this is to show us were to work more seriously.
All the best Zambia.
We can do it guys. Lets go Zed!