Chipolopolo coach Wedson Nyirenda says he has not called Nkana striker Walter Bwalya to the national team because his nationality was not clear.
Bwalya say he is Zambian-born from a Congolese mother and a Zambian father.
But Nyirenda said there was no documentation to show that Bwalya was Zambian.
“I always say that as long as the documentation is in place I have no problem. But as long as the
legitimacy is still in question I cannot take a risk,” he said.
Last year, ex-Zambia coach George Lwandamina called Bwalya to the national team before the player was dropped.
“We do not want any scandal all we need is clear things. If he is Zambian, he is Zambian let it be on paper. I do not want any doubts, any loopholes, if he is Zambian he is Zambian,” Nyirenda said.
Bwalya was the 2016 FAZ Super Division top scorer with 24 goals.
“He should also prove that he is worth the call up. He has been playing good football but he needs to understand that in football what other people may be seeing is not what the technical staff see,” he
added.
But what do the Nkana club officials say about this? Are they just going to watch in the terraces and hope a miracle will happen and the boy will start to play for Zambia? Come on guys can you ensure the lad gets what he deserves?
The thing is that he Walter is not as rear talent as Mbesuma, Kalaba, Patson… Why use so much energy on him?
I do not understand what is difficult here. How did Nkana engage him, didnt he come with the necessary documemtation? This a simple issue ba Nyirenda.
He still has a Congolese passport. The duo Citizenship issue is still not yet fully resolved. Theirin lies the problem.
Wawona…… Manje……… Wawona ………..Manje …….Wawona ………..Manje wayamaba…kulila
He is not even a good player anyway.halfcast
Nyirenda is right,let us not take risks on this issue.I have watched the guy play,he has a bad temper & that to me is a minus;shows he lacks humility especially when the going is tough in a match,you need composure.Nyirenda being a born-again christian i believe has discernment.
Not all great players have humility. Suarez: Violent racist, Diego Costa: Very Rude, Diego Maradona: rude Kapambwe Mulenga: rude
Nyirenda is a fo.ol period…… playing cheap politics were its not even nessary. why did u go for Charle musonda then if you knew he was not zambian??? *****s
The Citizen how simply is that? playing a foreigner in the local league is not the same as national team, has no consequency. Its not the national team technical bench’s business if he plays for a local team. the simple question is he should substantiate his citizenship. is that too much to ask? If we got disqualified on account of a fielding foreign player then you will know that its not simple. Wada is saying he needs verification.
there was a ka boy (Kamwashi?) who played for Chipolopolo. After making a name in Zambia he went to play for DRC. Luckily neither did CAF nor FIFA pick that up
Nyirenda should just ask FAZ to see if the player is registered as a Zambian or professional from Congo. He should not be playing with the fans when his office is just in the same building where players are registered. We don’t even need Nkana to help FAZ has records.
“He should also prove that he is worth the call up. He has been playing good football but he needs to understand that in football what other people may be seeing is not what the technical staff see,” he
added.
This is why Zambian coaches fail at National team level because we don’t know what they see. WHAT IS MORE IMPORTANT IN A STRIKER THAN SCORING GOALS? In football now ba Nyirenda it is not how well you play but the scoreline statistics at the end of regulation time
Whats the fuss about this guy his not as good as some bloggers say and more over he is indispline how do u want to clobber a ref-His a lukewram player stop bothering the technical bench when they see it fit they will incorporate him-Good observation coach wada
@One Zambia – Kamwashi actually changed the name to Kanku and later joined Ajax Cape Town in S.A. He was discovered later and from that time has never been heard.
I bet he has changed his name again to Doctor kumalo.
Felix Sunzu’s Father is a Congolese while his mother is a Zambian, how come he is playing in the Zambia national team? Why not Walter Bwalya whose Father is a Zambian but the mother is Congolese
we are NOT looking for a talented player like KANTE OR POGBA ? The paper work is easy to manufacture legally so
Coach Nyirenda’ s concerns are worth verifying. There are other duties a National Team Coach performs apart from actual coaching. Let’ s give him a chance to perform his duties without external influence.
Its a waste of time with Chipolopolo going nowhere
I am amazed to note that a national team coach / manager does not understand that foreigners need work permits to play soccer in Zambia! Ba Nyirenda please do not lead us into the temptation of questioning your calibre. how were you working in Mozambique?
Chachine ba chabu. This Nyirenda thing is just trying to look for a reason not to call the player
Zambia always losses on great strikers by blaming on nationality of players when this can be easily addressed! France won the World Cup with players or a player who was born in Congo DRC but became a French citizen! What is wrong with us! Had Tshikala Mwanza (Mufulira Wanderers) in the 1980’s played for Zambia, Zambia could have won the Cup a long time ago! Had James Jengela played for Zambia, we could have had a great player! Many players born in Zambia to foreign parents are discriminated against, generally in Zambia! Please just take him to the authorities and work on the paper work! Nearly all Rwandese national team players are Congolese!