A Lusaka based body building expert Chris Ellis has urged the Zambia National team technical bench to put in place a body fitness programme for the national team.
However the Football Association of Zambia (FAZ) says it has already put in place the programme which had improved the Chipolopolo boys performance.
Speaking in an interview with ZANIS sports, yesterday, Ellis said the national team needs to work on body fitness he said should not be confused to body building.
Ellis explained that there was need to for the technical bench to transform national team players into formidable players by improving on their body mass and strength.
He said in this way, the players would be able to stand and play competitively with any team in the region and the world, at large.
He expressed concern that most players in the national team were small in size and that disadvantaged them thereby limiting the chance of victory, in general.
Ellis, who operates a private gym at the Lusaka Show grounds, further explained that the programme should not be mistaken with weight lifting he said only builds muscles and not body agility and strength.
He added that the Renard coaching bench should also work on nutrition programme he said was key to building up body fitness and strength.
The body building expert said national team players need to be oput on a sports nutrition programme by giving them food supplements for body recovery after a match.
He said premier league teams Reda Arrows and the National Assembly football club had utilised the programme in the past season and had thereby played competitively.
However, FAZ Communications Officer Erick Mwanza told ZANIS sports that the local football governing body had identified the need for for the fitness programme for the team and that is why it had engaged the expertise of a physical trainer in Patrice Buoumoulle.
Mwanza said Boumoulle was one of the best physical trainer on the African continent saying he was steadily ensuring on the fitness of the team.
The Communications officer added that Zambia no longer has fitness problems regarding its players who he said where able to face any team.
ZANIS
While I would like to believe that this man just want to create money for his gym in Lusaka, I think he somehow has a point. Our players really look thin and starvy, like they were brought up in one of those famine stricken country. I think there is a shred of truth in what he is saying and FAZ don’t just dismiss his view. We watch football and have seen the way our players are easily pushed off the boy by the big guys from the north
Chris, maybe you should offer that to Mbesuma he clearly is the only one who is not physically fit. Ukulya bwino kulaletelela iyee
Wrong Advice ! The best players on the globe like Messi, Kaka, Ronaldo , Etoo , Xavi, Iniesta are not big in size, all they need is appropriate approach against different opponents. In fact for the first time Kalusha led administration has impressed me by recruiting a physical trainer and this has helped the team alot to withstand pressure from the strong and physical Egyptians in Cairo.
They should also lessen drinking maize juice (chibuku). These guys need motivational speakers in their lives because for most of them the major achievement is flying or being watched on tele, they do not see beyond that. I remember watching a match where Nketani was busy watching himself on the giant overhead tvs and whenever he sees himself he would smile even when he had created a faul which put his team in trouble. I bet what was going on in his mind was that “at least banabanga baniwona” and when he gets home his kids shouting “daddy tinamiwona museka pa TV paja mupangise free kick ija yamene cinamwesa chi, chi, chi Diouf”. And he goes “ooOOooH? Naiwe junior unaniwona”.
Luapula fish: Eto, Messi, Ronaldo…… are not small, have you seen their stamina? you cant compare them with Kalaba or the other one … I have just forgotten his name … Singuluma!
I will score 5 goals and miss 5 penalties when we play Algeria. I wanted to miss 2 penalties in the Lwanda Game but i had not taken a lot of Chibuku but utu giligili. Iam on demand Barcelona wants me. I will put Messi on the bench watch me fontofonto
i think the guy clearly stated that he was not referring to body building but rather increasing body mass. its possible for one to gain mass without necessarily “building” his body. the guy clearly has a point. the boys need much more stability on the ball
surely “Fat Albert Mbesuma” needs some physical training to re shape his gigantic body. we saw him introduced as a substitute and minutes later withdrawn in rwanda game, that rarely happen in football but common in basketball.
but did i also “hear” the guy say “food supplements?”…. ooohm!
gO RENARD
Thought they always needed it. THese guys seem to lack discipline of adhering to a fitness program let alone a diet that will help them keep fit all the time. To be a great sportsman you need to have discipline of a good diet and fitness program. Go for it while you make money for your gym – why not. Next time get our sportsmen a financial manager to help them use their money earned wisely instead of making money and in the long run end up living like you never earned any money let alone begging even for medical funds when in need from the government. FInancial discipline is required, thats also a career they choose hence they should make full use of it. Raise our sportsmens standards of living.
“Fat Albert Mbesuma” and chamanga have been dropped from the squad.
Lekeni atusheko Mbesuma!
This is the problem with us Africans, some ones comes out with some positve point, you are saying that he just wants to make money for himself, have you seen how the other foreign players look after themselves, they follow a strick workout and diet. Just look at D/ Beckam
and Ronoldo, they look fit and young . its becuase they look after themslves and work out a lot. Lets not think we can win games with unfit guys, never, they need to be toned and strong.
They need to empasise what exactly they mean by ‘body fitness’, pantu Mbesuma thinks they mean more chibuku!!
#15 Ba Moze , not that , its about your body lookin good for the ladies as well as on the pitch, Six Pack and nice legs. aahhhh
Thought this was mandatory for every Training regime
next time someone else will be offering them enduarance programs which shld be mandatory as well
i think these zambian players are treated like ur average zambian dude who has dinner at Soweto market..
1.These Zambia footballers, mostly ea ka Nsima for lunch the evening 3 tins of chibuku and super ka nsima ka chiwawa.
But players like Eto, Messi, and kaka diet to them is as important as football-trainings.
2. Most of our players don’t even know what diet means..a few i know will understand diet as not drinking maize juice a day befor the match.
3. These Zambian footballers don’t make any investment with their money. the can’t even buy ka minibus.
Finnish Club Fc Haka has taken Singuluma case to FIFA which has started it investigation regarding contractual mess caused by the player. According to Finnish newspapers FIFA has already contacted to Zambian football officials. In worst case Zambia has used in World cup qualification a player who has no right to play. In most of cases this leads to situation where club will lose points. Well played Given.