Chisi Mbewe is certain defending COSAFA Cup champions and ten-man Zambia will bounce back from Thursdays big defeat to Kenya.
Two first half goals ,one of which was a penalty, were enough to hand Chipolopolo an early setback in a match Kenya won 2-0 at Nelson Mandela Bay in South Africa to go top of Group B on match day one.
The defeat left Zambia bottom of Group B while Kenya lead on goal difference tied on 3 points with Zimbabwe who beat third placed Comoros 1-0.
“I think we have a chance to qualify.The most important thing is we don’t need look down because of the loss.We need to be strong in the next game and ensure that we keep our dreams of defending our title alive,” Mbewe said.
Kenya took the lead from a penalty conceded by Chitoshi Chinga in the 9th minute that was converted by Austine Atieno.
Patrick Otieno then beat defender Brian Chilimina to fire in the second goal in the 19th minute.
Kenya then looked comfortable absorbing some tame pressure from Zambia to give the defending champions a mountain to climb but not before Kelvin Kapumbu was shown a second yellow in the dying minutes of the second half.
“Otherwise if you saw the way we played, I think we did not play badly but we tried our level best but sometimes football can be like that,” Mbewe said.
“So the most important thing is we have to rise up as quickly as possible.
” We shouldn’t let this defeat destroy our ambitions of defending the trophy.”
It only gets harder for Zambia who must beat their COSAFA nemesis and arch-foes Zimbabwe in their penultimate Group B on Sunday or will see their semifinal hopes die.
Only the three group winners of the 12 team championship and best overall second placed side qualify for the semifinals.
Zambia is finished. With the mines gone, there is no system for developing players.
Stop blaming the mines. You just don’t know how to nurture and manage skills that are evidently abundant
And why was goalkeeper Victor on bench again?
They took wrong players, they should have selected from division 2 or whatever you call those, we saw better talents there.
No iwe Nostradamus. They should have sent the women’s team
Just come back you are wasting time and money.
Split FAZ into two. Current President has done tremendously well in women Football, Let him continue as FAZ President women and bring another person to be FAZ President men’s, we can be the first country in the world to revolutionise football administration in the world, there is nothing impossible
Another poor performance by this disguised LuBemba team purportedly representing all of Northern Rhodesia (including British North Western Rhodesia, BNWR) but embarrassing all of us. They looked unprepared, had poor ball control, poor pass accuracy, and the main striker looked like he was playing play park football. Some had poor body condition, like they needed workouts to build up muscles, and that defender who caused the penalty could not run fast like the Kenyans. Their next game against Southern Rhodesia (Shonas, Ndebeles, Karangas, Govas, Tswanas, Vendas, Tongas) will finish them off. Incorporate more physically strong BNWR players. If not, let this LuBemba team be landing in Lubumbashi, Zaire, en rout to Mansa, their capital.