UK-based midfielder Lifumpa Mwandwe is battling to make the cut for the Zambia Under-20 team’s clash against Rwanda this weekend.
The midfielder from English League One club Shrewsbury Town FC is one of two foreign-based call-ups for the 2019 U20 AFCON qualifier against Rwanda.
The defending U20 AFCON champions lead Rwanda 2-0 from the first leg played last Saturday in Kigali in a match Wigan striker Mwiya Malumo came on in the last five minutes of the match while Lifumpa did not make the final 18.
“I have no problems with Mwiya, he is readily available for the match on Saturday,” Zambia coach Charles Bwale said.
“But for Mwandwe, he is still facing challenge to adapt. But he has everything a player needs, he is a good player but he is failing to adapt.
“As the coach in charge of the team I will not bend to any one’s pressure.
“I will only use players who will meet the demands of the team.It doesn’t matter where that player is coming from as long he meets the demands then definitely he will make it in the team.”
Meanwhile, Malumo scored a goal in Tuesday’s 3-2 loss to Red Arrows in a training game played at Nkoloma Stadium in Lusaka where Zambia will hosts Rwanda in the final leg.
Winner over both legs will face Burundi or Sudan in the final qualifying round in July.
Sudan and Burundi are tied at 1-1heading into this weekend’s final leg in Khartoum.
Ba Coach do you have to discuss such issues openly in the media and then expect the player to perform better. Are you insinuating that the Under 20 standards are higher than the English League One?
tHE COACH IS RIGHT THESE BOYS NEVER WENT TO EUROPE HROUGH NORMAL CHANNELS THEY ARE ZAMBIAN KIDS BORN FROM ZAMBIAN PARENTS WHO MET IN A CLUB WHILST THE MAN WAS A STUDENT IN UK AND THE LADY WAS HHHULE SO MAN NEVER MARRIED THE LADY MDIYE BANA ABA
Real Aka Red! Nkana!
But the question is included the same player. It appears he was imposed on the coach which is the case with the senior team .please coaches always make your own team
Cont . I can imagine playing a player in crucial game yet not having seen him play any where not even juggling the ball.
@power90. You may be right. it makes little sense to fly a player thousands of kilometers only to bench him.
Some of these boys are just ‘wonna be’. if he doesn’t make the grade leave him out, period… the coach is right. some people from overseas just don’t have it
Comment:the coach may right but he should sort out such issues administratively not the way he he is coming out .