Construction works of the long awaited ultra modern stadium in Ndola has commenced with the Chinese contractor, Anhui Foreign Economic Construction Company, AFECC, assuring government that it will produce quality work at the site.

A Check at the stadium site yesterday found Chinese engineers and some government engineers carrying out some preliminary surveys.

Speaking in an interview with AFECC vice president, Hua Cheng Long, said the site is good and his group will do a good job.

Meanwhile, the Zambian government has handed over the stadium site to the Chinese contractor for them to begin the construction works expected to be completed in 26 months at a cost of US$65 million.

The construction of the over 40,000 seater stadium has been funded through a concession loan from the Chinese government to the people of Zambia.

Speaking when he handed over the certificates of duration of works and site possession to the contractor, Copperbelt Permanent Secretary, Villie Lombanya, thanked the Chinese contractor for finally commencing the construction works after the projected commencement stalled for a long time.

Mr. Lombanya said the Zambian people have anxiously waited for the commencement of the project and are glad that it has now commenced.

He urged Zambians, who will be recruited to work with the Chinese constructor, to work hard and emulate the Chinese hardworking culture.

He warned Zambian casual workers against the habit of absconding from work or pretend to be sick after being paid.

And AFECC vice president, Hua Cheng Long, said the good cooperation from the Zambian people will enhance success in the construction of the stadium.

He said his team was determined to work hard to accord Zambians to enjoy watching their beloved games from a comfortable stadium.

He wished the Zambian National Football Team well in their campaign for the 2010 World Cup qualifier in South Africa.

And Ministry of Sports, Youth and Child Development Director of Buildings, Whyteson Ngulube, who witnessed the site handover ceremony expressed happiness at the commencement of the stadium construction works.

ZANIS

Zesco United go into Thursday’s Caf African Champions League draws in Cairo seeded in pot three.

Eight teams will go into the lunchtime draws in Cairo and they are Etoile du Sahel (Tunisia), TP Mazembe(DR Congo), Al Hilal, El Merreikh (Both Sudan), Kano Pillars, Heartland (Both Nigeria), Monomotapa (Zimbabwe) and Zesco (Zambia).

The teams will be paired in in groups of four who will play each other on home and away basis in the mini-group phase that will run from July 17 to September 20 for four semifinal places ahead of the last four matches to be played in October.

According to Caf, all eight teams were seeded according to their performances in all Caf club competitions over the last five years on points calculated by continents football governing body.

In Pot A will be, as expected, led by 2007 African champions and two-time runners-up in the same competition Etoile du Sahel and joining them are El Merreikh on 59 and 22 points respectively.

The first team drawn from Pot A will lead group A and the other Group B.

Pot B will comprise of TP Mazembe and Al Hilal, both with 18 points, with the first team drawn going into Group A  while the other plays in Group B.

And so the possibility of the first-ever Sudan derby in the group stage of the African Champions League is likely.

Pot C will have Zesco, Pillars, Heartland and Monomotapa, all with no points, will be drawn to take each of the last two places in either Group A or B.

The match sequences will also be determined from the final draws at the same juncture.

Meanwhile, Etoile will be the only North African club in the competition for the first time since 1997 while their will be five group stage debutants.

Zesco, Monomotapa, Heartland (formerly Iwuanyanwu Nationale), El Merreikh, Pillars will all be making their group stage debuts.

Herve Renard has summoned three CHAN veterans excluding Power Dynamos left-winger Kennedy Mudenda as supplementary home-based personnel for Zambia’s 2010 African/World Cup Group C training camp that begins in Lusaka on Monday.

The trio called to supplement the seven home-based call-ups who go into camp on Monday in Lusaka including Zesco United midfielder William Njobvu.

Renard has also brought in the Zanaco midfield duo of Ignatius Lwipa and Henry Banda.

The trio is part of another 15 players call-up to help form a quorum for the locally based players training camp in Lusaka.

However, Mudenda who had an impressive CHAN outing as a substitute during the tournament held in Cote d‘Ivoire from February 22 to  March 8 has been overlooked for the training camp.

The seven players expected to travel to Johannesburg for Zambia’s final leg of training camp on May 17 where they will be joined by the foreign-based players are Power Dynamos defensive midfielder Francis Kasonde, Zanaco striker Given Singuluma plus the Green Buffaloes duo of defender Dennis Banda and goalkeeper Dave Kaumbwa.

Others are midfielder Jonas Sakuwaha, defenders Nyambe Mulenga and Hichani Himoonde all of Zesco United.

Team:

Emmanuel Masuwa (Chambishi), Davy Kaumbwa, Dennis Banda, Edward Musebo (All Green Buffaloes), Mukuka Mulenga (Kabwe Warriors), Timothy Mbewe, Jimmy Chisenga, Goodson Kachinga (All Red Arrows), Francis Kaonde (Power Dynamos)

Kennedy Mumba, Moses Siansumo (Both K-Stars), Joshua Titima, Percy Kisonge (Both Zamtel), Chalwe Katongo, Stanley Nshimbi (Lusaka Dynamos), Bernard Bwalya, Henry Banda, Ignatius Lwipa, Given Singuluma (All Zanaco), Innocent Mwaba, Jackson Mwanza, Nyambe Mulenga, Jonas Sakuwaha, Hichani Himoonde (All Zesco)
WEEKEND FOOTBALL FIXTURES

Faz Premier Division

09/05/2009

Week 9

Zamtel- Young Arrows

Red Arrows- Zanaco

Lusaka Dynamos – Power Dynamos

Roan United-Nakambala Leopards

Choma Eagles-Kabwe Warriors

Forest Rangers-Chambishi

Konkola Blades-City of Lusaka

Green Buffaloes-Zesco United

Division 1

10/05/2009

North

Week 10

Afrisports- Chindwin

Chingola Leopards- Mining Rangers

Indeni- Muchindu

Lime Hotspurs-Nchanga Rangers

Mufulira Blackpool-Luanshya United

Ndola United-Mufulira Wanderers

Zesco Luapula-Kalewa

Nkana-Kalulushi Modern Stars

Prison Leopards- Kitwe United

South

Week 10

Petauke United- Paramilitary

Green Eagles-Nampundwe

Luena- Lusaka City Council

Profund Warriors- Riflemen

Livingstone Pirates-Nkwazi

Lusaka Celtic-Zamcoal Diggers

Mazabuka United-Lusaka Tigers

Young Green Eagles- Kascol

Police Bullets- National Assembly

urged Zambians to be patriotic and not politicize female boxer, Esther Phiri’s recent boxing wins.

Mwamba, who is also Esther’s trainer said in an interview in Lusaka today that Zambians should support the female boxing icon rather than criticize her wins.

He has also advised people who are critical of Esther recent victory to find other means of proving that the female boxer’s fights and victories were genuine.

Mwamba has also disclosed that Esther Phiri will on Monday next week go into the gym to start preparing for her next fight.

He explained that as a champion, Esther would go to the gym so that she can prepare for any future challenge.

And a Lusaka business woman Mwangala Lethbridge has offered Esther, another boxer Kennedy Kanyanta, and trainer Antony Mwamba a day to do their manicure, pedicure, hair salon, and massage as an appreciation for the recent victories in Kenya.

Mrs. Lethbridge is the Managing Director of Avocado Hair and Day Spa said she decided to do this to appreciate the team for bringing glory to the country.

There has been a lot criticism from the public on Esther’s victories, with many people questioning the authenticity of her recent opponent, Ratree Kreakae of Thailand.

ZANIS