Five Chipolopolo players will miss today’s friendly against Gabon in Libreville.
The five include the TP Mazembe trio of defender Kabaso Chongo, midfielder’s Rainford Kalaba and Nathan Sinkala who all started in Saturday’s 1-1 away draw against Namibia in a 2019 AFCON Group K qualifier in Windhoek.
Mamelodi Sundowns goalkeeper Kennedy Mweene and Orlando Pirates midfielder Augustine Mulenga have also been released for varying reasons.
“I made an agreement with Mazembe that I would have the three boys earlier in camp and would release them earlier because they have an away CAF Champions League first leg game,” Vandenbroeck said.
Mazembe travel to Luanda this week to face Primeiro de Agosto of Angola on Saturday evening in a 2018 CAF Champions League quarterfinal first leg match.
“Then we have one injury that is Mweene, with a finger injury, it was better to release him to his club to begin his rehab there,” Vandenbroeck said.
“The last one is a private one, Mulenga has become a father so he has traveled to see wife and kid. It is always good to see a smile a on a players face when they become fathers again.”
Meanwhile, Vandenbroeck said everyone will get a run in today’s friendly with at least each player getting 30 minutes to play following a grueling trip after leaving Namibia on Sunday and arriving in Gabon on Monday following a night-stop in Ethiopia.
“We have had a long trip to Gabon, we traveled first for 11 hours after the game and later seven hours on the last leg to Gabon so that is not the best preparations,” Vandenbroeck said.
“We don’t have a lot of time to make tactical training before the Gabon game.”
This is Chipolopolo’s first meeting against Gabon since June 4, 2017 when they drew 0-0 in Libreville under Wedson Nyirenda.
You can also arrange friendly matches with European National Teams. Home Matches are also good. Last year it was in Garbon and this year Gabon, Is it because thats where we won the Africa Cup of Nations.
Get your act together coach
Coach aliche iwe
as long as we have no TP Mazembe guys we are ok. The goal is safe with Toaster Mweene can rest.. It would have been good to have Augustine but I think its fine. I think it will be a better game than the one with Namibia. Ba coach vi confidence sibana wine na game! Iliche.
all the best guys
mweene Its either due to AGE or he uses that FINGER TOO MUCH SCRATCHING INSIDE SOME THING FOR HIM TO HAVE A FINGER INJURY