Wedson Nyirenda has lamented the gamble of going to the 2018 CHAN without any serious friendly’s but is hugely relieved that Zambia still showed character on Sunday against a stubborn Uganda.
Zambia toiled to a 3-1 win over Uganda in their opening Group B match in Marrakech.
The match against Uganda was the Zambian player’s first match since November after spending a month in camp.
Zambia were left to play two training games one against a division two team in Lusaka and the last on January 10 against an Orlando Pirates B team whom they beat 3-1 in Johannesburg in transit to Morocco during a one day stopover in South Africa.
Zambia’s late departure for CHAN also saw their friendly against Cameroon scheduled for early last week in Morocco cancelled.
Uganda on the other hand played two friendlies in Rabat after drawing 1-1 with Guinea and losing 1-0 to Congo-Brazzaville after arriving week earlier in Morocco straight from their domestic league campaign that is currently at the midway point.
“It is not easy for any player or team to come into this competition without playing any competitive match. This is what has really shown for our team,” Nyirenda said.
“Going into other tournaments, this is a good lesson for us when we say we need test matches. They should be done.
“I have always believed in what I say, you plan and program and when the preparations come, follow the program. The program is held by the plan.
“If you don’t follow those things and you lose, at the end of the day the coach will be the one to blame.”
I fully agree with you coach…only one friendly with a club (Orlando Pirates).
FAZ, please wake up!!
Orlando Pirates B take note B team. YOu call that a game?
But everyone need to praise FAZ for jerseys, its nice copper colors, what Zambia should look like. Zambia is the smartest dressed at tournament.
Uganda were cold on bench, while Zambian players had long coats like Asernal.
FAZ staff enjoys trips at the expense of tax payers who want results . Stop it and give the boys real preparations.
Wedson! Before his team is even knocked out he is looking for excuses
Muletasha ba kamushi imwe ni jealous iyo.
This coach is MIGUIDED. How does one go to war and start blaming his weapons in the midst of war?? I THOUGHT he would praise the boys and encorage them to focus on IVC and burry UGANDA victory? WE WONT SUCCUMB TO YOUR EARLY EXCUSES FOR YOUR COMING EXIT , WE WONT TAKE IT KIND THIS TIME , SOON U ARRIVE AT THE AIRPORT STARIGHT TO BE QUARANTINED IN KANYAMA compound, muka nye chinye nye nye!! ba mambala imwe
mister coach with due respect your comments are misplaced. Help us back home to focus on the field of play and not what FAZ didn’t do well back home. you seem to be not only trying to picking a fight with your bosses but nurturing the group for accepting poor performance in Morocco. be reminded that some of prayers there with you are starters at the senior level so no excuse we got to win this tournament. Focus on Ivory coast, first half performance was rather boring from us. we couldn’t pass the ball around.
Let the coach finish talking naimwe
Ba coach please work on your defence silwimba .kapumbu and chama not doing well and also in the middle malama was lost. Please do something.
@Kennedy, thought negative people like you no longer exist? All the players you listed where the best in that game.
Could there be something wrong from the East?
This is the same coach who said friendly games are not as important, and winning or losing a friendly does not measure up how the team will perform at a tournament, what has changed now ???
Spot on Cocha
Despite kapumbu scoring he’s performance wasn’t all that good just improve in the next game
Coaches prease we are behind you but work hard on the midfielders like Malama and defender Chama.Strickers don’t rest Nsamu on Thursday.
Coach plz try to read the game don’t watch. Make sure u close all the loop holes like kapumbu and n’gonga.
Zambian coaches lack the b…..s to make drastic decisions when it matters most. Remember the ineffective Dennis Lota….the useless Zeddy Saileti and now Ng’onga. All kept on the pitch when they were costing us victories.. World cup qualification will remain but just a dream!!!