Zambia entered camp today in Lusaka ahead of departure for Gaborone this Wednesday where they will face Botswana this Friday in a 2009 Cote d’ Ivoire Africa Nations Championship (CHAN) first round, first leg qualifier.
The match will be played on May 1 at the National Stadium in Gaborone at 15:00.
21 out of 22 players had arrived in camp by Monday with the Power Dynamos trio of goalkeeper Rabson Muchelen’ganga, and midfielders Kennedy Mudenda and Francis Kasonde joining the team this afternoon.
However, Zesco United midfielder Rainford Kalaba who is one of 13 new call-ups for the CHAN match against Botswana has yet to report to camp.
Dropped from the team are key defenders Hichani Himoonde, Eugene Shamakamba and Charles Siyingwa.
Midfielders Simon Bwalya, Timothy Mbewe and Sebastian Mwansa are also not in the team including striker Reuben Tembo and Emmanuel Mayuka who is currently on a trial spell in Portugal.
Coach Peter Kaumba will trim the team to 18 on Tuesday on the eve of Zambia’s departure for Botswana.
Zambia qualified to the first round of the CHAN qualifiers 4-1 on aggregate after beating Swaziland 3-0 in the preliminary round return leg after earlier drawing 1-1 away in Manzini.
Team
Goalkeepers: Joel Kambili (Chambishi), Rabson Muchelenganga (Power Dynamos), Mike Poto (Green Buffaloes)
Defenders: Dennis Banda (Green Buffaloes) William Chinyama (Zesco United), Clive Sichondwe, Bronson Chama (Both Kabwe Warriors), White Simwanza (Young Arrows), Sanida Zulu (Chambishi)
Midfielders: Rainford Kalaba, Lottie Phiri (Zesco United), Moses Kapayi (Roan United) Siloni Jere (Kabwe Warriors), Francis Kasonde, Kennedy Mudenda (Both Power Dynamos), Chisamba Lungu, Stophira Sunzu (Both Zanaco), William Njobvu (Lusaka Dynamos)
Strikers: Roger Kola (Zanaco), Chiwanki Liyianga (Young Arrows), Enoch Sakala (Zesco United), Judge Mkandawire (Young Arrows)
Dropped: Dan Munyao, Eugene Shamakamba, Charles Siyingwa, Simon Bwalya, Emmanuel Mayuka, Reuben Tembo, Sebastian Mwansa, Hichani Himoonde, Tomthy Mbewe, Joe Lungu,
I am always skeptical about Kaumba’s judgement, especially since his failure ( twice ) to take us to the olympics. Why has he dropped Hichani Himoonde and Sebastian Mwansa, who acquitted themselves very well in the game against Swaziland. Its good to see Stophira Sunzu and Chisamba Lungu in the squad.
it is ok to try out a wide range of players so that there is a wide player base.let this be a tyme to discover new players
Is it not time that we had a debate or Competition to change the name from ‘Chipolopolo’ to a much more appropriate and widely representaive name.
‘KK’ 11 for starters was fine as an honour to our first republican president.
Bwana Jeff # 2. This tournament is for locally based players so even in selection, they will have been known. We do not need upstarts in the league otherwise we will even fail to qualify and showcase our local talent in Ivory Coast.We have been to Botswana on more than three occasions for freindlies and we ahvent won any game. This encounter in therefore not a mickey mouse affair. Those guys are more serious than Swaziland so we need the best locally based players around, not experiments. The least that the new talent can do is to 1st prove themselves in the league ! Kaumba has a certain stubborness which cost us passage to the olympics. He dropped Kalaba, Clifford Mulenga and Jacob Mulenga.
someone tell me, did Nkana actually win the league 11times in a role or what
In any case, you dont change a winning team. Its good though to strengthen it.
Nkana have won the league 11 times but not in a row. The consideration is for the number of times they have won. What i dont know is whether this 11 times is since the inception of the league or after it was changed to be called premier league.
All soccer loving zambians check wwwdotzambianfootballdotcom for a Fallen Heroes Photo gallery, its so moving seeing those photos. I am deeply touched.
all the best to our boys, lets go and taste the how the zebra meat tastes. we shall prepare them as emichopo shapali ba big joze
Nkana won the title 11 times in a row from 1940-1951
#9 you can wish the boys as much luck u want but it all ends up on how much the team has prepared, Me i don’t trust our team coz they have never convinced me.
Why isn’t the government releasing the Gabon report. The families need to know what exactly happened to their loved ones so that they may have closure. Their was an enquiry and a report was produced, their is need to make this information available to them and the public.
Talema navo, can’t we look at nsolo for now?
#4,Kolokombwa is right Botswana are a tough team to beat especially at home.We have played friendly games with them which we failed to win.Even Bafana Bafana have had a tough time with the Zebra’s.We need the best players against Botswana other wise we will be embarrassed on Friday.The Bulk of the Botswana team is based at home except three or four guys based in South Africa .So we will be actually facing a Full Zebra team.This team went to Egypt for the last qualifying game of Ghana 2008 and almost held Egypt 0-0 at home but conceded a last minute goal to lose 1-0.
I also doubt Kaumba’s intelligence of the opposition.
The guy said Ivory Coast were scared of Zambia thats why the had decided to bring in Solomon Kalou for the U-23’S .The Ivorians meant business but our coach was busy leaving his best players ‘cos the had graduated to the Senior team’.
Some one tell me what happened to Chamanga who was zambian striker during the nations cup?