Fri, 01 Feb 2013 13:23:20 +0000
Chipolopolo Coach Herve Renard says quitting Zambia is totally not on his mind despite his failure to successfully defend the Africa Cup title.
The Frenchman is Zambia’s most successful coach after leading Chipolopolo to their first Africa Cup title in 2012 at the tournament jointly hosted by Gabon and Equatorial Guinea.
“You know Zambia is not like a lot of countries around the World,” Renard said.
“Meaning we are friends and brothers.
“And if someone doesn’t want to continue with me, it is very simple we can even go out and eat something together then take my bag and leave but I don’t think it will be like this in Zambia.”
Zambia failed to reach the quarterfinals stage of this year’s Africa Cup after finishing third in Group C.
Chipolopolo relinquished their crown on three points from as many draws and were two points behind Group C winners Burkina Faso and runners-up Nigeria who finished tied on five points to advance to the last eight.
This is Renard’s second stint as Zambia coach after earlier leading them to the quarterfinals in 2010 for the first time since 1996.
Renard quit in April 2010 to take up a lucrative posting to coach Angola but left the Palancas Negras job just six months into a two-year deal.
The Frenchman returned to the Zambia post in November 2011 following the departure of his successor Dario Bonetti of Italy who was fired shortly after qualifying Zambia to the 2012 finals.
