Zambia’s senior nation soccer team’s 5-1 bashing at the hands of Cameroon on Saturday evening has disappointment President Levy Mwanawasa.
Speaking to journalists at the Lusaka international Airport before leaving for Ethiopia this morning, President Mwanawasa said the result was rather disappointing.
“The second game was rather disappointing, but I am looking forward to victory tomorrow. If we lose, it will be extremely bad,” he said.
Zambia lost 5-1 to Cameroon in the second match at the ongoing MTN Africa Cup of Nations soccer tournament in Ghana’s Kumasi city on Saturday.
Several soccer funs blamed the embarrassing loss on the defence which caused many blunders, thereby giving Cameroon strikers easy goals.
Tomorrow, the Chipolopolo boys, who have slim chances of qualifying to the second round, are facing defending champions, Egypt in their last game in group D.
During their first match at the tournament, the Chipolopolo boys hammered Sudan with three unanswered goals, at the time pushing them to the top of the group, followed by Egypt, who beat Cameroon 4-2.
The 5-1 loss to Cameroon has relegatated Zambia to third in its group and the Chipolopolo boys only have a mathamatical chance of qualifying to the next stage.
The result of the first match had raised fans’ hopes that the team was, after all, not as bad as they thought after defence pillar, Elijah Tana was excluded from the final list of players.
“Notoriously leaky defense”, that is how the zambian defense has been described on eurosport.
As much has every is quick to demonise the defence in the Chipolopolo team for their poor showing against Cameroon, the major problem the team has is the midfield which lacks defensive abilities thereby exposing the defence unnecessarily and allowing the opponents enough space to play the ball. The defence just cracked unnder pressure because it was not protected by the defence.
As much has everyone is quick to demonise the defence in the Chipolopolo team for their poor showing against Cameroon, the major problem the team has is the midfield which lacks defensive abilities thereby exposing the defence unnecessarily and allowing the opponents enough space to play the ball. The defence just cracked under pressure because it was not protected by the midfield.We lack a defensive midfielder and that should be a source of concern. It time we threw Franis Kasonde into the deep and let him shine
PP said: I did not stand up because I thought we would equalise!!! If Zambia qualifies, I will have to eat my words. If we do then that will be God’s intervention. I hope PP will change the team, the defence, Bakala should not play, push Jacob and Chris as two strikers, play with five defenders. Knowing Zambian coaches we may just see the same team.
Kemps- Mwape Mwelwa. I agree 100% with that assessment. It’s what you call two banks of four! Egypt will show us how to do it.
“The second game was rather disappointing, but I am looking forward to victory tomorrow. If we lose, it will be extremely bad,” Mwanawasa has said. I hope he can help enforce reform at football house, irrespective of the result we need an association that works well for the present and the future.
Kemps- Mwape Mwelwa very insightful analysis.
Do you know how Mwaba of Ireland is?
Man, i’ve lost confidence with J.mulenga, having both he and Chamaga playing means we play into Cam’s and Egypt’s strength because of their strong defenders. Play Mayuka & Katongo, play kalaba in midfield, we need to try and play straight through Egypt. Crossing the ball is not our strong point and neither is heading it. Players should not look to pass the ball into the net, get a yard of space and poke the ball in. No blasting! play short and quick! Egypt will play the through ball. One man holds, one man cuts out, one man covers.
You guys you dont learn. How do you expect Zambia to win with a comedy defence? Zambia’s defence is even more porous such that the largest inyungo (sefa or sieve in english) will even be able to hold water. I magine this folks. Wait for tomorrow you will see what I am talking about.
It will be another massacre. 6-0 to Egypt at least.
Let them just fulfil this fixture and come back home. The following should happen: Hanif Adams for FAZ presido, Kalu still FAZ vice Presido, Phiri relegated to assistant coach, and find good and I mean good expatriate coach. Drop Nkethani, Hachilensa, Musonda and Bakala. Build team around the 2 Katongos, Sunzu, Mwanza and Himoonde. I doubt Chansa’s fitness as he gave away the third goal. FINITO
I don’t see Zambia beating egypt with the defence that we have. However the boys should just play for pride and learn from this tournment
Mwisakamana sana guys! Nachilota Zambia yawina Egypt 2-0 na Cameroon yafilwa ukuwina Sudan. And we went through!!!!
We need Anif Adams for FAZ President. Mulonga, Kalu and the rest are extremely a shame. The entire FAZ executive sholud be voted out in March, 2008. Kalusha is very much to blame. He is a footballer not an ADMINISTRATOR. Donot vote for him. Rev Gladys Nyirongo(in problems now) made him pompous and he became very cheek.His days are countable
you dont get it, those defender chaps sold the game, could they refuse an offer of $15,000 when they only get 15% of that? if u aint getting it by now then u jus aint getin it
#3 Kemps we chana, there was no real pressure from Cameroon.The exposure of our defense was due to lack of experience and psychological defeat at playing world reknowned players.We need to expose these guys to more competitive leagues.We need to inject massive capital into soccer.We need to reintroduce Youth leagues at club level.The “B” sides of yester-years.We need to put our money where our mouths are.We cannot keep hoping and dreaming of being a soccer nation if we cannot do the basic things outlined above.We shall alls wallow in the shadows of the AFCON while countries like Angola make a mark on the continent.Why after so many years we still do not have a Zambian in the EPL,La Liga etc
Anif Adams for FAZ president? No!!! Where is your pride – those of you who are for this guy? I would rather have an indigenous person heading FAZ. Not xenophobic or racist but just a proud Zambian. Surely Zambia is not short of sons or daughters to lead the FAZ. Trouble is we are our own enemies because we want positions to be held by people from certain provinces only.As a result a good number of capable people are overlooked because they come from “wrong” regions. For tomorrow’s game Zambia will concede not less than three goals.
we must build the attacks from the back,short crisp passes,pack the midfield with 4,two up top,instruct the wingers to play left and right back in support when we don’t have possession.Stop Jacob from running all over the place,restrict him to 15m either side of the penalty spot with another striker playing off him 2-5 metres behind,shoot from midfield and please on target at least.when egypt retreat pass it back and invite them forward creating gaps for one two muchofe passes!!
lets at least go out in style!!Ucar employed this tactic even though he had better quality to work with.Mweene must watch his line as the Pharoah attacks will take advantage of his height deficiency.get the left+right backs to overlap and cross and the wingers must drop during the overlap to shore up the defence and thwart any counter attack that would find the wing back out of position!!like i said…lets go out in style!!
The Orginal Pundit my foot. THE ORGINAL DREAMER
#19, If you have nothing constructive to say, please don’t say anything.
Some people are defeatists trying to mascarade as realists.
Ba KSK(16), whilst not overtly supporting Hanif’s candidature we cannot ignore his wealth of football admin experience.He knows more about soccer admin than Kalu!!Maybe we need an injection of business acumen to take the game further.Ba Teddy has done well but maybe its time for fresh minds and a different perspective to support an overhaul of the game in Zambia.
#19, dreams are what success is made from…try it sometime !!
KSK, I don’t agree with you. Hanif is Zambian just like Soli Pandor, the team manager. U sound like FTJ trying to deport Kaunda. Hanif has done a lot for Zambian footabll, look at Lusaka Dynamos and how many players have come out of that club. I wonder why pipo are against Jacob. The boy is good, he puts defenders under pressure, he is strong and tall. He is one of our star players at this tournament. Bakala and defence are the weakest link.
Jacob,ba Shidada(23),shows some promise and potential but his ball control & positional play needs to be worked on.The boy runs,he has the Forest Gump determination at times!!What he needs apart from better service is tactical training and hey presto you could have another Kelvin Mutale in the making!!If he had played at a higher level in Zambia before plying his trade abroad we could have had a more mature striker to depend on!!
The boy Jacob needs to concentrate on his game, you have to threaten the defense each time you touch the ball and J has not really been doing that. He lacks speed but has physical presence. Yes, better position play, ability to hold the ball up and either get fouled or play in others! He has to look more focused than he does, he has to more deadly and clinical. At the moment i don’t him see making much of a success of himself if he doesn’t do those things I’m afraid.
Shidada #23 you are entitled to your own opinion. Whether or not Hanif Adams has done something for Zambian soccer does not mean he should be FAZ president. There are better Zambians with international exposure. Lusaka Dynamos, a third rate club churning out third rate players should not be a source of anybody’s pride. In any case the Zambian soccer league and clubs are nothing to write home about. Out of interest, who are the world class players that are the products of Lusaka Dynamos?
Ba KSK(26),Lsk Dynamos a 3rd rate club run out of the pocket of an individual,that achieved premiership status from lower leagues,that has exported players,albeit to strange corners of the world,headed by a man known for managing successful discos,Hanif a man disciplined enough to still be alive and selflessly pouring resources into a club and sport he loves in his adopted country??? Finshi mufwaya mwebantu??
KSK ulimusebanya we! Your tone smacks of racism and tibalism. ow can a sane progressive Zambian say such things. You are enophobic and tbal bawishi. How can you justify your comments about picking individuals from one region. People like you are a danger to Zambia, simarly to the anarcic characters destroying Kenya in the name of rigged elections, when the truth is that tibalism and racism is at the core oftheir actions. Shame on you we!
Koshita #13 stop campaigning for Hanif Adams by trashing Kalusha. If you are his campaign manager just do it properly. KSK #16 You dont seem to understand the meaning of pride. What has your pride got to do with Hanif’s election if he is elected? Pride has nothing to do with race. Hanif is a Zambian and he can do what other Zambians do. You are too backward I think we should take you to the Republic of Mukobeko for our own safety.
I want to be the next FAZ President. I will change things. Zambia will be back to the top.
hey 30# my man are you still surviving?
brothers from zambia how are you taking it this time? any hope of kicking the Pharaohs? good luck with that. still dreaming?
VIVAE EGYPT VIVAE SUDAN
It breaks my heart that there is so much enthusiasm for football and not as much attention to the flood problems in Zed for example. I wish that more of us would consider more serious debate on the real issues at home!!!!!
I WOULD LIKE TO APPLY FOR THE COACHING JOB WHICH WILL BE VACANT AFTER THE ZAMBIAN BOYS RETURN HOME ON THURSDAY
Hi Zambians!
I think that the team played extremly well in their last game, ofcourse not to put into oblivion their silly mistakes. Trust me, if you could ask Nketani, he did not make those mistakes on purpose!
Think!
Everybody makes mistakes. What is wrong is to repeat them 5 times.
Phiri make amends!
If I was Phiri I would tell the team to play like its their 1st game at the tourney and get them goals!
Kalu was a good player, I am yet to see his adminstrative abilities… the two are very different.
Teddy has failed.
Aniff Adams owns a succesful club (Zenon) and manages a dead team (Lusaka Dynamos)! Is that your man?
Abduwhatever you call you sick self!
Leave us Zambians to discuss our lovely game and maybe you can go and tease your suicide bomber brothers!
Your retrogresive coments are not welcome!
Thank You!
man to hell with this hanif adams chit chat i mean our commerce is already ran by asians …… not like that’s bad are we going to let these guys run e’rthing i want kalu to head faz he can employ some of his old mates in some capacity (charlie and msisika) and instill an expat coach no way will i allow hanif in any case the guy has no influence jus’ coz u own a trendy shebin (zenon) dont mean u can run our NATIONAL sport come on guys to many of ya’ll spend too much tym in that squalor u are now losing foresight….. hanif!!!! u must be joking u dont just wake up and say…. imwe guys bambi tamufwa
If Haniff Adams was to be elected, would he use his own money to fund some FAZ activities? In Australia, just prior to the 2006 world cup we had a businessman (a Hungarian Jew) for the first time take up the Football Australia presidency. He has greatly influenced the sport in this country and was responsible for funding Guus Hiddink (as Football Australia doesn’t have much money would you believe). So maybe it would be a good thing, depending on his commitment and knowledge of Zambian football.
What you guys don’t understand is that the most people get into FAZ not because they have the love of the country at heart but money. I told last time that if Mulonga or any FAZ official are match commissioners they get 50 000 rands, they also get money from CAF, FIFA. Hanif say whatever is a good adminstator, Simata Simata is good also, Ponga and Kalu have the connections. Kalu know what it means to be a player. I am surprised that KSK is being racist.
#12 indeed chiloto, when you wake up you will very disappointed like the president was. good luck in your dreams.
May the best candidate win, be it Kalu or Anif. Each one has merits I guess and it will depend on how well they present themselves.Contribution to Zambian Football is not only about “how much funds has been pumped in by an individual”. Some people have pointed out at how much Anif has pumped into Lusaka Dynamos, that is good and welcome. However, people need to understand what he has also gained by sponsoring a club, publicity of course. I personally would give Kalu a chance as President. If he fails to deliver after 4 years, then of course he has to go. Am not a racist but Kulu is an indigenous Zambian and carries an inherent support from me compared to ” a zambian of asian origin”.
#15 KCC we chana. In a way you are right. Our boys suffer from stage flight whenever faced with a famous player. I remember how the under 20 of 1997 got sacred of a young Benni McCarthy and got punished in the last minute when they were wining the match. Again in 1999 our under 20 boys got scared of a young Ronaldnho and lost 5-1 to brazil. So you are right they need exposure to bigger leagues.
But still we need a defensive midfielder
Hanif is not a pure Zambian!! I don’t care whether a cat is white or black as long as it catches mice.
Privatise the Football industry, the Government should minimise it’s hands off the running off football. Real competence only comes in if business people are involved.
If Government was all good, Businesses would hire them.
Hello Zambians,
On the issue of football ,i may suggest that we try also to look for boys in villages who are good at football.I remember in the past they used to be inter schools ,inter districts and inter province football matches were good players were selected and then taken into clubs and so on.
Does our president know that we dont have an international quality stadium? What do you expect from the boys?
Shidada and all those campaigning for Hanif please know that I am not being racist. I interact easily with people from all races but that does not mean I should not openly support my own. If I don’t do it who will? Certainly not the Adams, Patels, Smiths etc of this world. A black Zambian must head FAZ period. I still insist that Lusaka Dynamos is a mediocre club in a mediocre league. When did Lusaka Dynamos play in Africa? How far did it go? Like someone said don’t be carried away by someone’s loot realised from running a shebeen.
Soccer Fan No.2 #29, I think you are confused. Are serious that pride has nothing to do with race? Have you ever heard of the slogan “Iam black, and I am proud”? Surely some pride has to do with race. For instance in India a Black person or a white person cannot be a prime minister or a leader of a political party because those are preserve of native Indians. They are proud to keep it that way. So just concentrate on your under-achieving football teams, please Soccer Fan No.2.
KSK, I have questions for you. Is Kenneth Kaunda a Zambian? Is Obama American or Kenyan? Can Obama be allowed to run for presidency in Kenya? Why is Solly Pandor the team manager for six nations cup tournaments?
Kalu is too proud, he can’t head Faz and leave in SA…
we need complete change.. bring simata simata back..Solly pando has over stayed.. the dude needs to go.
KSK #49 you have misunderstood the philosophy behind the slogan. The slogan was meant to counter negative perceptions about the black race especially by blacks themselves. In the 60s blacks were using AMBI etc to make them ‘become another race’ so that if they are not black then they can be proud. That slogan was meant to make blacks realise that they dont need to be something else to be proud of who they are. Its not because someone is black that they are proud. No! You can be any race and still be proud.
The song or slogan wasn’t sung to be used to perpetuate racism (like you are trying to do) but to counter racism. As for India any Indian would laugh at your understanding or misunderstanding of their society. There is no such law in India. Try and argue from an informed position.
As for those asking for pure Zambians only to stand who is a pure Zambian? That cant be emotionally defined except by our laws. I dont support his candidature for FAZ but Hanif is a Zambian like me who is black full stop.
hahaha but mu zambia boza. Who said they get 50,000 rands thats a lie trust me I know what I am talking about.
Shidada #50 Kenneth Kaunda is a Zambian, Obama is American. However, I am not privy to the reasons why Solly Pandor is team manager for six nations cup tournaments. But you will tell me that because he is a Zambian. I have never said he is not a Zambian. Hanif Adams is also a Zambian. Happy? But certain positions such as that of FAZ President should not be held by an indigenous Zambian. Zambia should not be turned into a “blank cheque”. Otherwise these “Zambia Kawena, mali kamina” chaps will end buying all the important positions.
Shidada #50 Kenneth Kaunda is a Zambian, Obama is American. However, I am not privy to the reasons why Solly Pandor is team manager for six nations cup tournaments. But you will tell me that because he is a Zambian. I have never said he is not a Zambian. Hanif Adams is also a Zambian. Happy? But certain positions such as that of FAZ President should be held by indigenous Zambians. Zambia should not be turned into a “blank cheque”. Otherwise these “Zambia Kawena, mali kamina” chaps will end buying all the important positions.
Shidada #50 Kenneth Kaunda is a Zambian, Obama is American. However, I am not privy to the reasons why Solly Pandor is team manager for six nations cup tournaments. But you will tell me that because he is a Zambian. I have never said he is not a Zambian. Hanif Adams is also a Zambian. Happy? But certain positions such as that of FAZ President should be held by indigenous Zambians. Zambia should not be turned into a “blank cheque”. Otherwise these “Zambia Kawena, mali kamina” chaps will end up buying all the important positions.
Soccer Fan No.2 #52 and #53 I think you have ended up agreeing with me that some pride has to do with race. Just scrutinise what you have said in #52. Why should a black person bleach his skin with skin lightening creams or pills if he/she is proud of being black. Fact is those who are proud to be black don’t do such things. I didn’t say that there is such a law in India, there might as well be an unwritten one.So you do not know who pure Zambians are? Answer: all Zambians who belong to the 73 ethnic groups. The rest are Zambians but not pure ones.Period.
Soccer fan no2 you sound very wise. I always come tothe blog 2 readyour outputI think yuo mus t stand for FAZ president bcos your arguments are usally very mature.Can u tell us your reel name so that we can campaign for u after ted mulonga is removed i willmake sure heis firednow bcos 4 all the time heis chiarman we are out first roundIam your fan in SA
I agree with u we need soccer fan no2 for FAZ President Now!!! with hanif as veepee abash mulonga!abashPP!!
KSK#58 I haven’t agreed with you anywhere. Blacks bleached their skin because they had an inferiority complex brought on them by other races looking down on them. They therefore felt better when they were not identified as black becuase then they escaped this oppression. Any person can suffer from an inferiority complex if subjected to oppression mental or physical.Earlier at #49, you said in India a black person or a white person cannot be a leader of a political party. But India’s ruling party the Indian National Congress is currently led by a white woman! Sonia Gandhi is an Italian. She would have been Prime Minister but she declined the post.
As for the 73 ethnic groups you are talking about dont you know that some have relatives across borders? Ask yourself why? Its because we never made the borders. Therefore some families were divided by artificial borders. Thats why in Luapula you find people with cousins in the DRC. In Lundazi you find people with in-laws in Malawi etc etc. Those cousins or relatives across the border could easily have been Zambian ! So who is pure Zambian? Its just in the mind.
Soccer Fan No.2, Thank you for the exchanges that we have had. And thank you for correcting me about Sonia Gandhi being a leader of a political party in India.It had skipped my mind. But then do you know why she declined to be prime minister?
It is quite clear that none of us will give in to the other, so let us just part peacefully on this issue of pure Zambians and, for lack of a better term, “paper” Zambians. Hope to interact with you again on another issue. Keep well my brother/sister and best wishes.
Ok ksk we will meet again. Remember argument is the motor of life!
By the way in case I’m misunderstood I meant argument not quarrelling!
There was no need to be surpriesed by the performance of the Zambian Team at the Africa Cup of nations. The plays looked drained. They are not fed. How can you have passion when you are starving and your beloved ones are too? Its pays when the government have passion but it seems no one is motivated to support the team. We need results but we are not ready to invest: its a joke. leave the poor creatures alone they did what they could. I wish they were well fed to compete with engergetic footballers like those of other countries. Where is the spirit the the KK11 had, gone? Players and the coaches/managers should be proud of wearing the Zambian shirt. But how can you when your tummy is empty?