By MICHAEL MIYOBA
THE Red Bull Salzburg duo of Enock “Computer” Mwepu and Patson Daka have finally joined the Chipolopolo boys camped in Lusaka ahead of Thursday night’s crucial Africa Cup of Nations AFCON qualifier against Ageria.
Mwepu and Daka arrived from Austria yesterday alongside Poland-based midfielder Lubambo Musonda to join the squad selected by Chipolopolo coach Milutin “Micho” Sredojevic for the back-to-back AFCON qualifiers against Algeria and Zimbabwe.
And speaking on arrival at Kenneth Kaunda International Airport, Mwepu said the Chipolopolo will need to be aggressive and beat Algeria to have a chance of qualifying for the AFCON.
“If we lose this then it is done for us. My appeal to the guys is to just play compact football together and help each other in the field. We need to show good character and have the right mentality,” Mwepu said.
Mwepu has called on fans to support the boys as they face a tough challenge of beating Algeria before facing Zimbabwe in the last AFCON qualifier.
And Patson Daka is anticipating an exciting game against the Desert Foxes who are the favourites having beaten Zambia 5-0 when the two teams last met on November 14, 2019. Daka said despite being under pressure, Zambia still has a chance of qualifying for the AFCON as they need to win the remaining two games to achieve the set objective.
“To be in this situation is always encouraging because without pressure you can’t achieve anything we need the pressure so that we can reach our target. “We have put ourselves in this situation and it is only us who can move ourselves away from this and it can only be done by working hard which is exactly what we are going to do,” Daka said.
“We have two games to play and we need victories in both matches that is what we want to achieve so we know it is a do or die game we have to make sure that we focus on Algeria first before playing Zimbabwe.”
And Musonda, who captained the Chipolopolo in the last two games said they have not given up on their AFCON dream.
Meanwhile, Amazulu striker Augustine Mulenga and Black Leopards midfielder Rodrick Kabwe are also in the Chipolopolo camp ahead of Thursday’s qualifier against Algeria.
Mulenga and Kabwe complete the 12 foreign-based stars summoned by “Micho” following the sidelining of the Kangwa brothers, Klings and Evans who were dropped while, an injury has knocked out striker Fashion Sakala from participating on the two AFCON qualifiers.
Malawian adds colour to Sanlam Classic golf tourney
By MUKWIMA CHILALA
LEADING Malawian pro-golfer Paul Chidale is this weekend set to add colour to the three-day Sanlam Classic Golf tournament, the second event on the Professional Golfers Association (PGAZ) 2021 calendar.
The tournament is coming three weeks after the season opener – the Reliant Mining Classic held at Nkana Golf Club and won by Madalitso Muthiya.
This tournament teeing off on March 26 at Lusaka Golf Club will bring the country’s elite golfers ranging from professionals to amateurs and juniors.
And PGAZ tournament director Rhodah Duthie says the Sanlam Classic tournament was helping meet the association’s goal of lifting the standards of the game in the country, adding that the presence of foreign players cheered the organisation even more.
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She paid tribute to Sanlam Life Insurance for joining the Zambian golf family and working to better the game and give opportunities to the players to advance the game.
She said the sport would only grow if the Zambian players continue to play competitively and for this to happen, the game needs sponsors and Sanlam’s move was commendable.
“We would like to take this opportunity to thank our main sponsor Sanlam Life Insurance for joining our great golf family. We know Sanlam Life as a leading life insurance company with the widest branch network in the country and it is good that they extended their reach to us,” Duthie said.
She urged the golfers to be at their best and keep practicing so that their performance at the Sanlam Classic is second to none.
Asked about the games going ahead amid the coronavirus pandemic, Duthie said the PGAZ had been in touch with the Ministry of Health who not just gave them a go-ahead but also prescribed strict health guidelines to be followed.
Among the clubs expected to take part in the tournament are Lusaka, Chilanga, Bonanza, Chainama, Mazabuka, Mufulira, Chibuluma, Ndola and Nkana who will bring some of the most exciting new players on the Zambian golfing scene.
