What is happening at the defending FAZ Super Division champions Zanaco?
The 2016 champions have been hit by high and unusual exodus of players uncharacteristic of a team representing Zambia in the CAF Champions League.
All this is happening with less than a month before Zanaco host APR of Rwanda in the two sides preliminary round, first leg match on February 11 at Nkoloma Stadium in Lusaka.
With the exception of the overdue departure of midfielder Roderick Kabwe abroad, who joined Ajax cape Town in December, the other departures have raised eyebrows.
Salulani Phiri is also in South Africa where he has joined Polokwane City in a deal that was sealed before the title was won and reached earlier in the latter part of the 2016 season.
Defender Aaron Katebe has decided to forgo Champions League football to return to his hometown of Kitwe to play for Nkana who finished third last season and will not be playing any continental football in 2017.
“Nkana gave me a good offer. That is why I left,” Katebe said.
Another defender Fackson Kapumbu and forward Davy Daka are training with Zesco United who finished second.
Midfielder Isaac Chansa is believed to be courted by a Middle Eastern club while Charles Zulu is also said to be heading to Europe.
And defender Mwelwa Sakala has also left Zanaco and is training with Power Dynamos.
Meanwhile, there’s a wall of silence from Zanaco officials.
The team has also kicked off preseason training in Lusaka on a rather elusive note away from the public eye in the midst of hemorrhaging players raising questions rather than answers as to whether they will be able to rise to the occasion in the CAF Champions League.
ZANACO should improve on wages
Check coach’s character.
Even if Zanaco had all the players that were mentioned in the Article, they still wouldn’t represent the country well in continental football. Only Zesco can do the nation proud.
Truth Is: I agree with you 100%. It’s either these players are scared to bring shame to the country or the Official at ZANACO have eaten their winning bonuses (remember at FAZ the money for AFCON was eaten by Officials) and now the players are showing them who the real boss is in soccer. This is extremely strange and wierd to say the least. Honestly someone has eaten the players money and it’s a payback time. I only hope the players will be given clearance certificates
It could be low wages or frustartion by officials. I have worked for a well paying organisation with very good conditions of services but senior management started frustrating staff and there was mass exordus of qualified staff. Others even joining organisations offering lower wages.
A wife will leave a rich husband for other reasons other than money.
They all know that club wants to buy players for continental games and they feel betrayed.Palate kwambakofye kanshi kaili they too can be bought
I fear for Zanaco. They will be eliminated in the preliminaries
Why are you calling them “Elusive”?
Replace them why make a big meal out of it.I believe there other players out there who would want to play football at champions league level.