Lwandamina issues rallying call to fans

New Zambia coach George Lwandamina has pleaded with Chipolopolo fans to back the team as it starts a new era.

Zambia begin life under Lwandamina on Saturday with a home game in a 2017 Africa Cup Group E qualifier against Guinea Bissau in Ndola on the back of a modest run of results.

Lwandamina takes over from Honour Janza who was fired on Monday after Zambia picked up just one competitive win from six games in 2015 that came in the consolation Cosafa Cup Plate semifinal after tumbling at the quarterfinal stage in last month’s tournament in South Africa.

The other three wins in 2015 have all come in friendlies.

“The fans will be very, very important. They have to encourage the boys. It is a transitional period,” Lwandamina said.

“They used to play good football but have gone down slightly. We need support for them to play better football.

“If they discourage them, then the woes will continue. So they have to rally behind these players, they can do it, they have been doing it it, and they have done it before.”