KALABA HAD IT COMING

Thu, 24 Aug 2017 10:10:25 +0000

…as former Chipolopolo trainer Fred Mwila backs Kalaba’s dropping by Wada

By Grace Chaile Lesoesta

FORMER Zambia national team coach Fred Mwila has backed the dropping of midfield maestro Rainford Kalaba from the Chipolopolo provisional squad to prepare for the 2018 Russia World Cup qualifier against Algeria.

Mwila said whenever a player begun to ignore the coach’s instruction, it was a sign that he had grown and seen his days.

Speaking in an interview yesterday, Mwila said coach Wedson Nyirenda could not continue to use the same players if he had to crack the record in the forthcoming encounters.

“You cannot be playing the same players even when they are not in good form.  There is nothing wrong with Nyirenda dropping Kalaba, we all had our glory days, talk of Godfrey ‘Ucar” Chitalu, and Kalusha Bwalya, they had to be replaced yet these were stars. And discipline is vital,” he said.

He said if a player could not be disciplined, the coach cannot bend because that player was a star.

Mwila said the Algeria game will be a reincarnation of a Chipolopolo team as it blends the U-20 stars and some old marshals.

He said the Under-20 players had the speed and enthusiasm which was vital when facing the Arabs.

“He has picked a strong and competitive team. The Arabs have had the better of us in past clashes but with the fast footed young players, we can pull a surprise,” he said.

The U-20 players called are: Fashion Sakala, Patson Daka, Emmanuel Banda, Edward Chilufya, Enock Mwepu, Boston Muchindu and Moses Nyondo.

Meanwhile, former FAZ executive committee member Masha Chilemena termed the treatment of Kalaba as unfair.

Chilemena said Kalaba was a team captain and deserved a call-up even when he was facing suspension in the first leg.

“The issue of Kalaba has not been handed administratively and professionally. Nyirenda is a leader and he should have exhausted all the administrative processes before punishing Kalaba. This is a TP Mazembe captain and a wonder midfielder so he deserves fair treatment. He is not an ordinary player” he said.

He however said the inclusion of U-20 players was the most intelligent act that Nyirenda had done.

He said the coach listened to the fans’ calls and realised that the match against Algeria required energetic and fast paced players.

“This is the most competitive team assembled so far. The U-20 have the best striking force in the world at junior level, so it’s time the young people took over. But he should not pick players that don’t feature at their clubs as that can cost us,” he said.

Meanwhile Zambia Sports Fans Association patron Peter Makembo says the squad selected by Coach Nyirenda was strong and capable of delivering good results.

In an interview with Daily Nation Sports in Lusaka, Makembo said Nyirenda had done well to give the seven U-20 national team stars an opportunity to showcase their talent at senior national level.

Makembo also hailed Nyirenda for forgiving Fwayo Tembo and Cletus Chama who were recently snubbed from the national team as they were alleged to be undisciplined.