Ex-Zambia star Gift Kampamba has lamented Chipolopolo’s failure to qualify for the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations.
Zambia is out of the race to Cameroon with one round of matches left to play after Sunday’s 1-0 away loss to Mozambique in Maputo.
This was Chipolopolo’s third loss in five qualifying matches.
The retired midfielder observed that Zambian players lacked the hunger to win matches in the qualifying campaign.
“We are all disappointed. Look at the teams qualifying for the Africa Cup they are mostly newcomers,” the 2002 Africa Cup star said.
“Coordination and the hunger to win was lacking in our team. Players needed to show that hunger. You know qualifying for the Africa Cup is a bonus as players want to make a grade in their careers.”
Zambia has now missed out on AFCON qualification twice in a row.
Kampamba, who is now an assistant coach at Lumwana Radiants, also called for adequate preparations ahead of future assignments.
“We need to be camping the team for longer periods. Sometimes we organise friendly matches for players who do not feature in official games.”
Kampamba was a common feature in the Chipolopolo squad during his peak days at Nkana, Mamelodi Sundowns and Rostov in Russia.
Gift is right, the current crop of players is performing way below Division 3 in an African league. I’m failing to come to terms how we would be struggling to get full results from teams like Namibia and Mozambique. FAZ should find credible partners in the business world to help tap and develop talent from the grassroots. The age team should be an important buffer for future senior team players. A couple of years ago we won the under 20 African championship and also competed in age limited world cup. My question is what programs did FAZ put together to ensure that the team continued playing together? Zero. The team should have been the one competing in regional tournaments like COSAFA and the like until they would mature as a unit not picking a few players from the squad.
GIFT Basoke! nga uyu mwabi wehre did they get him from? Please don’t tell me he’s even comes close to Nyirenda. This is what we call Jumping from the Frying pan into the Fire. Chintu is also looking more and more blank by the day. Is’nt it embarrassing that we fail to qualify when the number participating teams has been increased?
I 100% agree with Gift. It not only our players that are passionless and committed but also the technical bench & FAZ; they have low energy levels and lack purpose. Where are the Victorious under 20 boys that recently won the Africa under 20 cup? I thought FAZ had a vision of blending them into the senior team (that has been limping since their 2012 Garbon victory). We could have nurtured and developed those boys into super stars, if only we had a visionary FAZ and an experienced & passionate coach. I think we need to start all over again; disband the entire team, get a new foreign, experienced and well-known coach and of course some heads must roll at FAZ, I’m sure we will get somewhere. Chipolopolo shall be great again! God bless Zambia!
I don’t agree. The players are not the problem. It’s the poor management to blame. This Kamanga regime can’t win any thing. They only know how to talk. What has Kamanga managed successfully in Zed? Nothing
The coming of Sven has not changed anything to the Wedson inadequacy. I think faz need to look at better technical bench. In about 7 games he is been incharge the bench has not been consistent in some departments like strikers and midfielders. When we thot Patson has graduated to the main striker the new bench begins to bench the main striker